By Kevin Zhang
At least 26 people have been killed after multiple tornadoes ravaged through towns and cities in the American South and Midwest.
Thousands of homes were destroyed and even more were left without power as the huge storms devastated several U.S. states.
More than 80 tornadoes have been reported since March 31st, according to the National Weather Service. Fatalities have been reported in Arkansas, Illinois, Alabama, Indiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.
The town of Wynne in Arkansas, around 100 miles east of Little Rock, was hit particularly hard by a tornado. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency in the state and activated the national guard in order to help with recovery. President Biden promised federal aid to Arkansas.
As the storms continue to make their way east, hundreds of thousands of people have been left without power, with residents in Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania being hit the hardest.
Storms on Friday hit a large heavy metal gig in Belvidere, Illinois, leading to the collapse of the theater’s roof and one death and 28 injuries. Around 260 people were present in the building at the time that the roof caved in, leaving 5 people in serious condition.
Several flights at Chicago O’Hare International Airport were delayed or canceled as passengers were advised to take shelter due to the severe weather.
The deadly tornadoes came just a week after an abnormally large tornado made landfall in Mississippi and killed 26 people. That particular tornado traveled over 59 miles and lasted around an hour and 10 minutes, a tremendous period of time for a tornado to sustain itself. 2,000 homes were damaged in that storm, according to officials.
President Biden visited Mississippi on Friday to pay his respects.
