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Massive tornado tears through homes in Oklahoma, injuring at least 10
TL;DR
A tornado in northern Oklahoma injured at least 10 people and caused extensive damage in Enid, where homes were destroyed. Emergency services are assessing the aftermath as more severe weather is expected in the region.
Key points
- At least 10 people injured in northern Oklahoma tornado
- Tornado caused extensive damage in Enid
- Emergency services assessing damage
- 30 million people at risk for severe weather
- Tornadoes spreading into wider areas including Illinois
Mentioned in this story
OklahomaEnid
At least 10 people were injured after a tornado hit northern Oklahoma, as a strong weather system produced a dozen reported twisters that tore destructively through parts of the central US overnight.
Emergency services began assessing the most extensive damage in the rural town of Enid as dawn broke on Friday. Homes were reduced to rubble and splintered wood in the city of about 50,000 people near the state’s northern border. A number of videos showed terrifying wind funnels touching down and roaring across the land towards settlements. The largest tornado was reported to have stayed on the ground for 30 minutes, carving a snaking trail of damage.
The intense weather system in Oklahoma hit as by early Friday more than 87 homes were reported destroyed by wildfires sweeping across parts of Georgia, where two blazes have burned tens of thousands of acres amid drought conditions and high winds.
At least 30 million people will find themselves in risk areas for dangerous weather over the next three days, especially as seasonal tornadoes continue and spread over a wider area, including into Illinois, weather services reported.
In Oklahoma, the Garfield county sheriff’s office said on Friday there were no immediate reports of fatalities and only minor injuries hours after the tornado passed through, having hit as residents were retiring for the night on Thursday. The mayor of Enid said some people were trapped in their homes and had to be rescued.
Emergency crews were conducting search and rescue operations amid significant damage, including at the Vance air force base in Enid.
The air force base confirmed the impact from the tornado in a Facebook post and said its staff was conducting accountability procedures to ensure all personnel were safe and accounted for.
“Base leadership is assessing the installation to determine the extent of damage and to ensure the safety of facilities and infrastructure,” the base said.
The base later said that it is closed until further notice “due to ongoing power and water restoration efforts” and “only mission essential personnel required to support critical operations and restoration of base utilities should report for duty”.
Q&A
How many people were injured by the tornado in Oklahoma?
At least 10 people were injured after the tornado hit northern Oklahoma.
What areas in Oklahoma were most affected by the tornado?
The rural town of Enid was the most affected, with homes reduced to rubble.
What is the forecast for severe weather following the tornado in Oklahoma?
Weather services report that at least 30 million people are at risk for dangerous weather over the next three days, including seasonal tornadoes spreading into Illinois.
