Storms in the US kill at least seven, cause extensive damage

AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS

At least seven people have died after severe storms and at least one tornado hit the US state of Missouri, where authorities are searching from building to building for the injured.

The storms were part of a powerful storm that caused extensive damage in Missouri, triggered tornadoes in Wisconsin and left hundreds of thousands of homes without power in the Great Lakes region, and caused a heat wave in the state of Texas.

The storms ripped roofs off buildings on Friday afternoon, broke windows, toppled bricks and uprooted trees and power lines.

St. Louis Mayor Kara Spencer confirmed that five people had died in the city and that more than 5,000 homes had been affected, and that about 100,000 people were without power by Friday evening. She said it was all very difficult and that the city was preparing to declare a state of emergency, and that a curfew had been imposed on Friday night into Saturday in the neighborhoods where the most damage was done, Beta reports.

It is not known exactly how many people were injured, Barnes Jewish Hospital received at least 20 patients injured in the storm, some of whom are in serious condition but most were discharged during the evening, a hospital spokeswoman said.

St. Louis Children's Hospital received 15 patients, two of whom will remain in the hospital over the weekend, she said.

The National Weather Service announced that its radar registered the appearance of a tornado between 2:30 p.m. and 2:50 p.m. on Friday in Clayton, Missouri, in the St. Louis area.

The St. Louis Fire Department said that three people were being rescued when part of a church in the city collapsed, and one of them died.

Downed trees and traffic lights also caused traffic chaos Friday afternoon, and officials urged people to stay indoors.

A tornado also hit Scott County, about 125 miles (200 kilometers) south of St. Louis, killing two people, injuring several others and destroying several homes, Sheriff Derrick Wheatley said on social media.

A severe thunderstorm watch was issued for possible tornadoes, large hail and tornado-force winds that could hit parts of the U.S. Midwest on Friday.

A tornado watch was issued for Marion, Illinois, on Friday evening, and there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

A dust storm watch was issued for Chicago on Friday evening. The National Weather Service said the dust was spreading along a 100-mile (160-kilometer) line from southwest Chicago to northern Indiana, severely reducing visibility.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Kentucky, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, parts of Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas and Ohio for severe storms that could include large hail and the threat of winds of 75 miles per hour through Friday night.

The state of Texas is facing a heatwave. A heat advisory has been issued for San Antonio to Austin with temperatures ranging from 95 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit (35 to 40.5 degrees Celsius). The southern parts of the US East Coast, from Virginia to Florida, are also battling temperatures reaching 90 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit (32 to 37 degrees Celsius).

Humidity expected over the weekend will make the heat feel even more intense, the National Weather Service warned.