At least five people, including children, died after a powerful tornado ripped through a crowded Texas gas station Saturday night, causing the entire structure to collapse.
Up to 80 people have been injured and authorities warn the death toll “is likely to rise.”
The Valley View tornado – about 60 miles north of Dallas – was just one of several devastating tornadoes reported in the Lone Star State, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Cooke County Sheriff Ray Sappington confirmed those killed in the severe overnight storm that hit the AP Travel Center, which includes a Shell gas station and restaurants south of town, injuring between 60 and 80 people taking refuge inside.
Dozens of panicked drivers had stopped at the gas station to pull off the road during the dangerous weather conditions, only to find themselves directly in the path of the tornado.
Many people had to be rescued after being trapped inside.
“I can also tell you that number is going to increase,” Sappington told WFAA of the death toll. “I don’t want to speculate and give you a number.”
Search and rescue operations continue at the gas station and in a nearby neighborhood.
“It took a while to get back there because of all the damage from the power lines and the trees were down. It was a monumental task to get back to where they were,” Sappington added.
Sappington urged residents to stay away from storm damage, noting numerous reports of downed power lines and gas leaks that could cause serious injuries if encountered.
Still, the sheriff was confident in their ability to return from the severe, deadly storm.
“We will rebuild,” he said. “It’s Texas. We can rebuild the property, and as horrible as it sounds, in two or three months it won’t look like this. It will be better. But the loss of life is nothing short of tragic. It’s always tragic. That’s what hurts the most.
Two children were also missing in Cooke County following the storm, Sappington said.
Forecasters had issued tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings for parts of both states on Saturday as heat records were broken over the long holiday weekend.
As the storm moved through the area, it overturned RVs, downed power lines and trees, and made some roads completely inaccessible.
On Saturday evening, the National Weather Service office in Norman, Oklahoma, warned areas north of Oklahoma City to “take shelter now!” » In a follow-up message at 10:05 p.m., the agency noted that the storms had left the area and were heading toward North Texas.
Around 10:24 p.m., the Fort Worth Weather Service office began warning of the storm moving through the area, issuing a severe thunderstorm warning with possible “golf ball-sized hail.”
The Normandy office compared conditions Saturday to “a pile of gasoline-soaked brush” and forecasters warned that the storms would likely be accompanied by large hail, dangerous winds and tornadoes.
The storm system was expected to move east as the Memorial Day weekend continued, bringing rain that could delay Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 race and more severe storms to Illinois, Indiana , Missouri and Kentucky.
The risk of severe weather is expected to shift to North Carolina and Virginia on Monday, forecasters said.
With post wires.
New York Post
