A series of tornadoes have killed at least six people and caused severe damage in the United States. In addition, there were dozens of injuries, US media reported on Saturday night, citing the police and rescue services. A total of around 50 hurricanes that could be classified as tornadoes were counted in seven states. Local media spoke of a rare “monster storm system” stretching from the southern United States to the Great Lakes region in the north.
According to the weather service, the states of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Mississippi and Tennessee were particularly affected. Around half a million households were without power, at least temporarily, according to data from poweroutage.us.
At the concert in the theater the roof collapses
In the small town of Belvidere, Illinois, the roof of a theater partially collapsed during a severe storm during a concert. According to the media, at least one person was killed and dozens more injured. According to fire chief Shawn Schadle, 5 people were taken to the hospital with serious, 18 with moderate and 5 with minor injuries. At the time of the collapse, a storm was raging with gusts of up to 145 kilometers per hour. According to authorities, 260 people were in the theater at the time the roof collapsed. Dozens of ambulances were deployed.
The concert was sold out, it said. Death metal bands Morbid Angel, Revocation and Skeletal Remains were on the program at the Apollo Theater. Morbid Angel shared on Facebook that the concert was canceled “due to a tornado that hit the venue”. Belvidere has around 25,000 residents and is a good 100 kilometers from Chicago.
Hours earlier, a tornado hit the town of Little Rock and the surrounding area, Arkansas. Images from local television stations showed uprooted trees, overturned vehicles and torn roofs. There was one dead, the media reported, citing the authorities. At least 50 people have been taken to hospitals, a spokeswoman for Pulaski County told CNN. Two more fatalities were reported from the village of Wynne, around 150 kilometers away. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency and mobilized 100 National Guardsmen to help with rescue and clean-up efforts.
President Biden encourages those affected
Two people were also killed in a violent storm in Sullivan County, Indiana, police said. Several houses and the building of the volunteer fire department were damaged, police spokesman Matt Ames told CNN. “It hit us hard,” said emergency services coordinator Jim Pirtle.
A tornado killed at least 26 people in the states of Mississippi and Alabama just a week ago. On Friday, US President Joe Biden and his wife Jill visited the small town of Rolling Fork, Mississippi, which had been particularly hard hit by the storm.
During the visit, the Bidens got an idea of the destruction in the 2,000-inhabitant community and met, among other things, the city’s mayor and affected residents. “You are not alone,” Biden said amid the rubble of destroyed homes and uprooted trees. “The American people will stand by you. They will help you get through here – and so will I.” The President announced Monday the opening of a local disaster center where affected residents could seek help.
