Tornadoes wreaked havoc in the American Midwest on Friday, causing buildings to collapse with dozens of people inside and destroying and damaging hundreds of homes, many around the city of Omaha, Nebraska.
As of Friday evening, there were several reports of injuries, but no reports of deaths. Tornado warnings continued to be issued overnight in another neighboring US state of Iowa, the AP reported.
Three people were injured in Lancaster County, Nebraska when a tornado struck and demolished an industrial building with 70 people inside. Several were trapped, but all were evacuated, and the injuries were not life-threatening, authorities said.
One of the most destructive tornadoes on Friday moved for miles through mostly rural agricultural areas before destroying homes and other buildings in suburban Omaha, a city of 485.000 people with about a million in the greater metropolitan area.
Photos on social media show that the small town of Minden, Iowa, about fifty kilometers northeast of Omaha, also suffered extensive damage.
The forecast for Saturday is ominous, writes AP. The National Weather Service has issued tornado warnings for parts of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. Forecasters have warned that large hail and strong gusts of wind are possible.
"It looks like there's going to be another big shock tomorrow. Maybe a little further south," said Becky Kern, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Omaha office.
"Hundreds of homes were damaged in Omaha on Friday, mostly in the Elkhorn area on the west side of the city," said Omaha Police Lt. Neal Bonaci, adding that many homes were destroyed or severely damaged.
Omaha Fire Chief Katie Bosman said police and firefighters went door-to-door to help people, going to the "hardest-hit area."
In one area of Elkorn, dozens of newly built large houses were damaged. At least six were destroyed, including one that was razed to the ground, while others had their upper halves torn off.
Dozens of emergency vehicles were dispatched to the area.
"We could hear the tornado coming. All of a sudden our fence was gone and we looked to the northwest - the whole neighborhood was gone," said Pat Woods, who lives in Elkhorn
A tornado warning was issued for the Omaha area Friday afternoon just as children were about to be let out of school. Many schools had shelters for students until the storm passed. A few hours later, buses were still taking children home.
Another tornado hit the area on Omaha's eastern edge, passing directly through parts of Apple Airfield, the city's airport. After passing through the airport, the tornado crossed the Missouri River and entered Iowa, north of Council Bluffs.
Nebraska Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Katrina Sperl said Friday afternoon that damage reports were just beginning to come in.
In Lancaster County, where three people were injured when an industrial building collapsed, police officials also said they had reports of an overturned train near Waverly, Nebraska.
The local power company, Omaha Public Power District, reported that nearly 10.000 customers were without power in the Omaha area.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen posted on social media platform X that he ordered state resources to be made available to help with emergency response and support while they assess the damage.
"Nebraskas are no strangers to severe weather and, as they have been countless times before, Nebraska officials will help Nebraskans rebuild," Pillen said.
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