HOUSTON: Tornadoes and violent storms raked across the central United States, killing at least 33 people and leaving dozens more injured amid forecast of more severe weather.

Local news showed roofs torn off homes and large trucks overturned.

Eight people died in Kansas in a crash involving more than 50 vehicles, caused by low visibility during a “severe dust storm,” police said.

Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed 12 storm-related fatalities and shared images of boats piled on top of one another at a marina destroyed by the weather.

Further south in Missi­ssippi, the state’s governor said six deaths were rep­orted while three people were missing on Saturday.

In Texas, authorities said four people had died in road accidents linked to dust storms and fires that reduced visibility. In Arkansas, officials said three people had died and 29 had been injured in the storm.

The National Weather Service (NWS) warned of “severe thunderstorms” from the Lower Great Lakes to the Southeast on Sunday.

At least 250,000 homes and businesses across the central United States were without power on Sunday, according to tracking site poweroutage.us.

More tornadoes were forecast in the central Gulf Coast states including Mississippi and Tennessee. “Numerous significant tornadoes, some of which may be long-track and potentially violent, should continue into this evening,” the NWS said.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2025