A massive storm front has left a trail of death and devastation on its way through the southern United States. By storms, flash floods, and tornadoes died to Sunday in Texas and adjacent Louisiana according to media reports at least eight people, including three children. The bad weather front finally moved further northeast, including New York and the capital city of Washington.
Alabama residents have been warned by the meteorological services of tornadoes in the midst of downpours. In a suburb of Birmingham, a worker died while clearing fallen trees.
Tornadoes and flash floods
In Texas, several people were victims of tornadoes. In Angelina County, two children died when the car in which they were traveling with their parents was hit by a falling tree. According to the sheriff, the three and eight-year-old children could only be rescued dead from the vehicle. In the archaeological site of Caddo Mound, tens of thousands of people were hit and injured by a tornado and a woman later died in the hospital.
Near Houston, a woman died in the rubble of her motorhome. Four other people were injured.
In West Monroe in neighboring US state Louisiana, a 13-year-old drowned when he was hit by a flash flood. Later, the police discovered another dead man in a sunken car. Also in the state of Mississippi reported the authorities of at least one dead and many injured by the storm.
Completely destroyed villages
The hurricanes and floods destroyed many houses, fallen trees blocked the streets or fell on overhead lines and caused power outages in many places. The town of Franklin in Texas was almost completely destroyed by a tornado, according to media reports. In Hamilton, Mississippi, dozens of houses were razed to the ground, it said.
In Augusta, Georgia, the Masters Golf Tournament started earlier than usual because of the approaching storm on Sunday. The pros had to tee off unusually early. Tiger Woods already celebrated his victory in the noon hours – usually the winner of the tournament is not confirmed until the afternoon.
