Three dead, more than 100 injured and houses destroyed: a powerful tornado ripped through Texas

It happened in Perryton, a small town of 8,000 inhabitants. The images of destruction.

Three dead, more than 100 injured, houses destroyed, vehicles overturned and trees down is the toll left by a powerful tornado that hit Perryton, a city located in north Texas, in the southern United States, on Thursday night.

Prior to the disaster, several million Americans in multiple southern and Midwestern states were under severe weather watch for dangerous storm surges that, fueled by the region’s high temperatures, spawned tornadoes, thunderstorms and hail the size of golf balls.

In the states of Colorado, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Florida, alarms were activated for tornadoes, severe electrical storms and floods.

Three dead, more than 100 injured and homes destroyed: A powerful tornado ripped through Texas. (AP Photo/David Erickson)

Finally, a ferocious tornado ripped through Perryton, a city of about 8,000 on the Texas border Thursday night. Videos posted on social media showed buildings and mobile homes destroyed or damaged, trees uprooted and vehicles overturned.

The Perryton fire chief, Paul Dutcher, confirmed to the ABC news network the death of three people and the transfer to local hospitals of more than 100 injured with various severity scales. He added that some patients were sent to specialized centers.

Rescue efforts are still ongoing and firefighters are still pulling people out from under the rubble. It is not ruled out that the number of fatalities will increase.

In a statement, the state’s governor, Greg Abbott, said that “Texas is rapidly deploying resources to respond to the emergency and provide the necessary support and assistance to protect citizens and help those affected by the Perryton tornadoes.”

Storm chaser Brian Emfinger, who recorded aerial images with his drone in Perryton, said he saw “significant damage” including in the city’s industrial area.

For its part, the National Weather Service reported a tornado watch in effect for parts of north and central Texas, which includes Dallas, a city of 1.2 million people.

“Large hail and gusty winds remain a threat, but a tornado or two is not ruled out,” the NWS said in a statement.

Three dead, more than 100 injured and houses destroyed: a powerful tornado ripped through Texas

“Mildly injured please go to the clinic. Everyone else go to the hospital ER,” Ochiltree General Hospital in Perryton wrote on Facebook.

With information from AFP.

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