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Severe storms sweeping across the United States have claimed the lives of at least 26 people.
In a highway pile-up caused by a dust storm in Sherman County, Kansas, eight people died, involving at least 50 vehicles.
In Amarillo, Texas, car crashes during a dust storm resulted in three fatalities.
Authorities in Missouri report that tornadoes caused the deaths of 12 people, with three more fatalities reported in Arkansas.
Destroyed houses in Florissant, Missouri. Pic: Reuters
A store selling car parts is torn apart in Cave City, Arkansas. Pic: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/AP
The scene of one of the fatal crashes in Austin, Texas on Friday. Pic: AP
Approximately 108 million individuals remain under widespread wind, flash flooding and wildfire alerts in central and southern US states. Hundreds of thousands of households are also without power.
Tornado warnings are in place in parts of Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Indiana, and Kentucky as a massive storm system moves across the country.
Many areas across southern states are, or will soon be, dealing with widespread flash flooding, the National Weather Service warned. It added that the flooding could turn deadly.
In Butler County, Missouri, on the border with Arkansas, local coroner Jim Akers said the man and his wife were sleeping when the tornado struck.
Tim Scott is hugged by a friend outside what is left of his home in Wayne County, Missouri. Pic: AP
Another home destroyed – this one in Florissant, Missouri. Pic: Reuters
Rescuers were able to pull the woman from the debris – but could not save the man whose mobile home was ripped apart.
“It was unrecognizable as a home. Just a debris field,” he said, describing the scene. “The floor was upside down. We were walking on walls.”
Large vehicles were also pictured overturned across the state.
