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At Least 16 Dead as Tornadoes Cut Through Midwest

2 minute read

Updated 1:26 p.m. ET

Tornadoes tore through the American Midwest and South on Sunday, killing at least 18 people in three states—14 in central Arkansas, one in Oklahoma in a cyclone’s wake and one in Iowa.

Authorities are reporting that a tornado touched down 10 miles west of the Arkansas state capital Little Rock, causing widespread devastation in the suburban communities of Mayflower and Vilonia. Authorities initially said 16 people had died in Arkansas but later revised that to 14 because two people were counted twice, the Associated Press reports.

“What I am seeing, it is a lot of damage. I’ve been listening to the rescue folks. They’re saying people have to be extracted from vehicles,” Vilonia Mayor James Firestone told CNN. “It looks pretty bad. From what I understand, there has been a subdivision that’s been leveled.”

The tornado was reportedly on and off the ground for a total of 80 miles, cutting large swaths of destruction to the west and north of Little Rock.

“It sounded like a constant rolling, roaring sound,” Mayflower resident Becky Naylor told the Associated Press. “Trees were really bending, and the light poles were actually shaking and moving. That’s before we shut the door, and we’ve only shut the door to the storm cellar two times.”

Just two hours before the tornado touched down in Arkansas, another cyclone unleashed havoc farther to the west in the tiny town of in Quapaw, Okla., where one resident died and six were injured.

Tornadoes were sighted in Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri throughout Sunday as heavy storm cells ripped across the Great Plains.

Meteorologists are forecasting that severe weather, including tornadoes, hail and heavy winds could continue to pound the Midwest and Southeast throughout the beginning of the week. According to the Weather Channel, conditions are ripe for more tornadoes from east Texas across large swaths of the Plains up into Illinois.

[CNN]

Photos: Tornadoes Tear Through the South

Arkansas Tornado Damage 01
An upturned truck lies under a tree that has lost most of its branches, following a tornado near Vilonia, Ark. at sunset on April 28, 2014. Carlo Allegri—Reuters
Arkansas Tornado Damage 02
Constance Lambert embraces her dog after finding it alive after returning to her devastated home along Clayton Ave in Tupelo, Miss. on April 28, 2014. Brad Vest—The Commercial Appeal/Landov
Arkansas Tornado Damage 03
Ken Sullivan, general manager of We Willies Super Auto Wash, looks over the damage after a tornado yesterday tore through the area for the second time in three years, on April 28, 2014 in Vilonia, Ark.Wesley Hitt—Getty Images
Arkansas Tornado Damage 04
A police officer walks past an overturned car on Apr. 29, 2014 at a homesite that was destroyed by a tornado on Sunday in Vilonia, Ark.Mark Wilson—Getty Images
Arkansas Tornado Damage 05
A damaged home is seen on Kincannon Street in Tupelo, Miss., April 29, 2014.Thomas Graning—AP
Arkansas Tornado Damage 06
Rescue workers and volunteers stand amid debris of homes one day after they were destroyed by a tornado in Vilonia, Ark. on April 28, 2014.Carlo Allegri—Reuters
Arkansas Tornado Damage 07
Aerial view of the central town after a tornado hit Vilonia, Ark. on April 28, 2014.Carlo Allegri—Reuters
Arkansas Tornado Damage 08
A resident makes his way down Jackson Street and away from the tornado damaged area in Tupelo, Miss. on April 28, 2014.Thomas Wells—Reuters
Arkansas Tornado Damage 09
Hunter Allred climbed into a home along Clayton Ave in Tupelo, Miss. on April 28, 2014 to look for the owners' pets after the home was destroyed by a tornado on Monday. Brad Vest—The Commercial Appeal/Landov
Arkansas Tornado Damage 09
Destiny Simmons sits in the rubble of her home that was destroyed by a tornado as she talks on a cell phone, April 28, 2014, in Vilonia, Ark.Eric Gay—AP
Arkansas Tornado Damage 010
VILONIA, AR - APRIL 29: The remains of a large truck destroyed by a tornado on Sunday evening rests amid the debris, on April 29, 2014 in Vilonia, Ark.Mark Wilson—Getty Images
Arkansas Tornado Damage 011
Men use boards as paddles as they search though the debris of what is left of homes in a lake after a tornado hit the town of Vilonia, Ark., April 28, 2014. Carlo Allegri—Reuters
Arkansas Alabama Tornado Damage 012
Teresa Ingram looks for belongings in the debris after a tornado passed through destroying Billy Barbs mobile home park on Tuesday, April 29, 2014, in Athens, Ala. Butch Dill—AP
Arkansas Tornado Damage 013
Uprooted trees are pictured after a tornado hit Vilonia, Ark. on April 28, 2014. Carlo Allegri—Reuters

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