KATHMANDU: A tornado wreaked havoc in Barnsdall, Oklahoma, demolishing homes, uprooting trees, and causing power outages. The small town, home to around 1,000 people, bore the brunt of the storm, resulting in significant damage and at least one reported fatality. Dozens of homes were damaged, a nursing home was affected, and road closures and gas leaks were reported.
Bartlesville, located approximately 20 miles northeast of Barnsdall, also experienced damage from the tornado. Emergency officials urged people to stay off the roads to facilitate rescue and assessment efforts, highlighting the challenges posed by traffic congestion in accessing affected areas. The National Weather Service had issued warnings of a "large and life-threatening tornado" approaching Barnsdall, with wind gusts reaching up to 70 mph.
The tornado outbreak was part of a series of severe storms that swept across the central United States, with areas in Kansas experiencing apple-sized hail and widespread damage. The region, including Sulphur and Holdenville in Oklahoma, was still recovering from a previous tornado incident that claimed lives and left many without power. The stormy weather is expected to persist throughout the week, particularly affecting the eastern U.S. and the South, before clearing up over the weekend. Meanwhile, floodwaters in the Houston area began receding following heavy rains, which had led to extensive flooding and numerous high-water rescues in southeastern Texas.
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