By Sabiu Abdullahi
At least eight people have died after powerful tornadoes struck parts of the central United States, affecting the states of Michigan and Oklahoma. Authorities have warned that more severe weather could occur in the coming hours.
Officials confirmed on Saturday that four people died in southern Michigan while another four lost their lives in Oklahoma. Emergency responders are still assessing the affected areas, and authorities say the death toll may rise as more information becomes available.
The storms swept through several communities on Friday. They left widespread destruction that included damaged buildings, crushed vehicles, fallen trees, and power lines. Videos released by local media showed heavy damage across some towns after the tornadoes passed.
The United States National Weather Service also warned that additional severe weather could develop across a wide region stretching from the Great Lakes to Texas. The agency said thunderstorms and flash floods remain possible, and there is still a chance that more tornadoes could form.
In Michigan, the Branch County Sheriff’s Office reported that three people died and 12 others were injured in the Union Lake area near Union City.
About 81 kilometres southwest of that location, officials in Cass County confirmed another fatality. Several people were also injured after another tornado struck the area.
“Emergency Management personnel will be conducting damage assessments in the affected area as required by the State of Michigan,” the local sheriff’s office said.
In Oklahoma, authorities reported additional deaths linked to the storms. Law enforcement officials said at least two people were killed after a tornado hit the town of Beggs in Okmulgee County.
State Governor Kevin Stitt also confirmed that two other victims, a mother and her daughter, died in Major County on Friday.
“I declared a state of emergency for Alfalfa, Creek, Grant, Major, Okmulgee, Rogers, Tulsa, and Wagoner counties to ensure Oklahomans have the support and resources they need after last night’s storms,” Stitt wrote on social media on Saturday.
Emergency teams continue rescue and assessment operations across the affected communities as authorities prepare for the possibility of further extreme weather.
