Storms claim 3 lives
THREE people are confirmed dead and several others have been injured as powerful storms smashed into buildings, downed trees and left a trail of destruction around the Deep South on Monday.
One person was killed in a suspected tornado strike on a Louisiana home, and two others were confirmed dead after another storm hit around a community about 55 miles (90km) west of the north Alabama city of Huntsville.
Two people were killed and at least four others were injured when another apparent tornado smashed into Town Creek, Alabama, the community’s police chief, Jerry Garrett, told a news conference late on Monday. Officials there said houses or mobiles were destroyed.
Details remained sketchy on the extent of damages as darkness and downed trees and lines hampered the work of first responders.
The storms triggered multiple tornado watches and warnings over a span of several hours on Monday. Elsewhere, some cities opened shelters as a cold front collided with warmer air over northern Gulf Coast states and temperatures were expected to plunge.
The National Weather Service said the severe weather threat could last into the early hours of Tuesday. The Louisiana death on Monday was attributed to an apparent tornado that struck a residential area in Vernon Parish, but details were not immediately available, said Chief Deputy Calvin Turner.
He said authorities feared others could be hurt in the area since crews were still trying to reach hard-hit areas where downed trees and power lines blocked roads.
“We’ve got damage at lots of places. We’ve got a church where the fellowship hall is torn all to pieces.
“Some homes are hit. Right now we’re having trouble just getting to places because of trees that are down,” Mr Turner said.