US: At least 34 people have died as devastating tornadoes and extreme weather battered several southeastern US states, destroying homes, flipping vehicles, and leaving thousands without power.
Missouri has been hit hardest, with 12 fatalities confirmed. Governor Mike Kehoe described the devastation as catastrophic, with initial reports indicating 19 tornadoes across 25 counties.
In Mississippi, six people lost their lives as tornadoes swept through the state, prompting emergency warnings. Arkansas reported three fatalities and 29 injuries, leading Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders to declare a state of emergency.
Oklahoma and Georgia also confirmed deaths, while Texas suffered a massive pile-up due to a dust storm, killing four people. In Kansas, at least eight people died after a dust storm caused a 55-vehicle crash.
9:06am CDT #SPC_MD 0225 , #pawx #mdwx #wvwx #ohwx, https://t.co/oAOGcmd0hJ pic.twitter.com/HUW2R69xNA
— NWS Storm Prediction Center (@NWSSPC) March 16, 2025
More than 250,000 homes and businesses across seven states, including Michigan, Missouri, and Illinois, lost power overnight. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued further tornado watches for Louisiana, Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida, warning of “intense to violent long-track tornadoes.”
Additionally, severe flash flooding has been reported in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee, with meteorologists cautioning that conditions could turn deadly.
The powerful storms have also fueled over 100 wildfires across central states, overturning semi-trucks and destroying acres of land. Oklahoma’s 840 Road Fire has already burned 27,500 acres and remains 0 percent contained. With tornado season in full force, experts warn that the destruction could continue in the coming weeks.
