COLE, Okla. (AP) — Strong storms including tornadoes, gales and hail swept through parts of the central United States Wednesday, killing at least two people, injuring others, destroying homes and leaving thousands homeless. electricity.
The National Weather Service began issuing tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings Wednesday afternoon for Oklahoma, Kansas and Iowa, advising people to take cover.
Several tornadoes were reported in central Oklahoma Wednesday night, one of which tore through the towns of Shawnee and Cole.
At least two people died in the small town of Cole, in McClain County, and there were injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to injuries requiring hospitalization, although the numbers were not immediately clear, as hundreds of people worked on the search operations.
Power lines were also downed, trees and homes were downed, and other buildings were extensively damaged or destroyed. Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee and an airport were damaged before the tornado moved away and lost strength.
At the height of the day, more than 23,000 customers were without power in Oklahoma, according to poweroutage.us.
Several residents south of Oklahoma City reported being trapped in their dugouts, mailboxes blown away and emergency crews using GPS to locate addresses, McClain County Sheriff McClain told KFOR-TV.
Two people in Cole survived the storm unharmed after taking refuge in a sewer, according to the television.
Storms this spring have spawned tornadoes in the South, Central Northwest and Northeast, killing dozens of people.
Cole is 25 miles (41 kilometers) south of Oklahoma City.
