Tornadoes Kill at Least 18 in Southeast

Carrie Dedrick | Updated: Apr 28, 2014

Tornadoes Kill at Least 18 in Southeast

Devastating tornadoes touched ground in the Southeast Sunday evening killing at least 18 people. At least 16 victims were from Arkansas.

The tornadoes stretched across Arkansas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri. Little Rock suburbs were hit the hardest in the storm, with one trail of destruction extending 30 miles reports ABC News. One tornado had a breadth of about a quarter mile.

Residents of the disaster areas took cover as the tornadoes hit. Mark Ausbrooks, of Mayflower, Arkansas said, “It turned pitch black. I ran and got pillows to put over our heads and...all hell broke loose.”

Much of the small town of Mayflower was destroyed; the tornado left only rubble in its wake.

Search and rescue teams worked through the night to look for victims and survivors trapped by debris. The search continues today.

Only two years ago, Vilonia, Arkansas was hit by an EF 2 tornado that caused damage to homes and property. Vilonia Mayor James Firestone reported that Sunday’s storms were even stronger.

The devastation was just tremendous as far as the damage that it did. Houses are reduced to just rubble,” Firestone said.

 

Publication date: April 28, 2014



Tornadoes Kill at Least 18 in Southeast