Tornadoes tore through Oklahoma on Sunday, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming the lives of four people, including an infant. The severe weather outbreak flattened buildings, injured at least 100 people, and left thousands without power across the state.
The town of Sulphur, with a population of about 5,000, was hit particularly hard. A tornado crumpled many downtown buildings, tossed cars and buses, and sheared the roofs off houses across a 15-block radius. Gov. Kevin Stitt, who visited the town, expressed disbelief at the extent of the damage, noting that nearly every business downtown had been destroyed.
Approximately 30 people were injured in Sulphur, some of whom were in a bar when the tornado struck. Hospitals across the state reported around 100 injuries, mostly from debris. White House officials said President Joe Biden spoke to Governor Stitt and offered full federal support.
The deadly weather in Oklahoma added to the dozens of reported tornadoes that have wreaked havoc in the nation’s midsection since Friday. Another death was reported in Iowa, where a man critically injured during a tornado on Friday had passed away.
In Sulphur, the tornado began in a city park before barreling through downtown, flipping cars and ripping roofs and walls off brick buildings. Residents were left to grapple with the devastation and figure out how to rebuild their community.
Two more people were killed near the town of Holdenville when a tornado damaged or destroyed more than a dozen homes. Another person died along Interstate 35 near the southern Oklahoma city of Marietta. Heavy rains accompanying the tornadoes also caused dangerous flooding and water rescues.
Governor Stitt issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in 12 counties due to the severe weather’s fallout. Residents in other states, such as Nebraska and Iowa, were also dealing with storm damage from tornadoes that struck over the weekend.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.