Multiple tornadoes have struck large areas of the US Southeast and Midwest, destroying homes and resulting in at least 27 fatalities, according to officials. The death toll is expected to rise as the weather deteriorates on Saturday.

David Roth, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, reported that over 20 twisters occurred overnight into Saturday morning as a low pressure system fueled powerful thunderstorms across the central region of the country.

“There is a high risk of more tornadoes in Alabama and Mississippi today, with a 30% chance,” he stated. “This is quite significant.”

At least 12 dead in Missouri

The majority of the fatalities occurred in Missouri, where at least 12 people lost their lives, according to authorities.

The state’s police reported that “tornadoes, thunderstorms and large hail” caused power lines and trees to fall and extensive damage to properties.

Eight deaths were recorded in Kansas due to low visibility during a severe dust storm that resulted in over 50 vehicle collisions, while another four people died in similar dust storm-related accidents in Texas, authorities said.

Illinois, Mississippi, and Arkansas also experienced tornadoes, with officials confirming at least three deaths.

“We have teams surveying the damage from last night’s tornadoes and providing assistance on the ground,” Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders stated on X, adding that she had released $250,000 (€228,000) in disaster recovery funds.

NBC reported that over 400,000 people in the Midwest and South of the US were left without power.

How are the storms expected to develop?

Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee can expect more tornadoes throughout Saturday, while the storms are predicted to move east, potentially reaching Florida and Georgia by midnight.

The National Weather Service stated that the extreme weather is expected to intensify, with an increased risk of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in the evening.

Edited by: Saim Dušan Inayatullah