St. Louis, Missouri: A powerful tornado tore through St. Louis, Missouri, on Friday, killing at least five people and causing widespread destruction. According to city officials, the twister damaged approximately 5,000 properties as it uprooted trees, downed power lines, ripped roofs from buildings, and disrupted rush-hour traffic along major roads.
“Our city is grieving tonight,” said St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer, who took office just one month ago. “The loss of life and the destruction is truly, truly horrendous.”
Emergency teams continued to assess the extent of the damage and gather information from hospitals across the city. The number of people injured remains unclear at this time.
In response to the devastation, city authorities imposed a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. in two heavily affected police districts. Officials said the curfew is meant to protect residents from hazardous debris and deter any potential looting in the aftermath of the storm.
Also Read | China Says Humanoid Robots Will Complement, Not Replace, Human Workers
Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson confirmed that approximately 500 first responders were mobilized, including 17 specialized search teams. Despite the widespread damage, early assessments suggest that the number of injuries was lower than initially feared.
Also Read | Southwest Escapes Legal Turbulence as US Ends Delay Lawsuit
The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that at least six tornadoes touched down across Missouri and neighboring Illinois, as part of a broader system of severe weather that extended as far as the Atlantic Coast. Another tornado was confirmed in New Jersey, with the entire region under threat from heavy storms, high winds, and flash flooding.
