At least five dead after tornadoes hit central US
By Kathryn Armstrong
At least five people, including a four-month-old baby, have been killed after dozens of tornadoes ripped through the central US causing serious damage.
Tens of thousands of residents were left without power following separate storms that began on Friday.
Four of the deaths happened in Oklahoma, where a state of emergency has been declared in a dozen counties.
A fifth person died from their injuries in Iowa after a separate storm system hit the Midwest, local media reported.
The National Weather Service (NWS) said a preliminary investigation had confirmed some of Saturday’s tornadoes had gusts of above 136 miles (218km) an hour.
The storms – which swept from Texas to Missouri – also saw up to seven inches (18cm) of rain fall in some places within hours, the AFP news agency reported.
The town of Sulphur, in eastern Oklahoma, was hit particularly hard. Video of the aftermath showed flattened homes and overturned vehicles.
According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, around 100 injuries were reported.
