34 killed as severe storms batter US

HOUSTON — At least 34 people died as of Saturday night as dozens of violent tornadoes, blinding dust storms and gust-driven wildfires continued to batter the central and southern United States on Saturday.

More than 40 tornadoes had hit eight US states, while severe weather threat continues in southern and southeastern areas in the country, ABC News reported.

In the southern state of Mississippi, Governor Tate Reeves announced on Saturday that six people died in three counties and three more people were missing.

"It appears that multiple tornadoes moved through our county from the southwest to the northeast, causing significant damage to multiple areas," said Tylertown Police Chief Jordan Hill.

Up to 19 tornadoes may have passed through the Midwest state of Missouri, killing at least 11 people in four counties while causing widespread havoc, said Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe's office. Later in the day, local media reported the death toll in the state rose to 12 due to tornado strikes.

In Oklahoma, one person died from wildfire smoke, Governor Kevin Stitt said at a news conference.

As of Saturday morning, more than 170,000 acres have burned with nearly 300 homes and buildings damaged as more than 130 blazes were reported across 44 counties in Oklahoma, Stitt said.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced a state of emergency on Saturday.

"This storm will hit at the worst possible time, as people are heading to or already in bed. Be prepared ahead of time and remain weather aware as long as this system is in the state," Kemp said in a statement.

Extreme weather conditions could impact more than 100 million people across the country, the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center warned on Saturday. The center has issued a 5 out of 5 "high risk "of severe weather for Saturday.

"A tornado outbreak is expected across the central Gulf Coast States and Deep South into the Tennessee Valley. Numerous significant tornadoes, some of which should be long-track and potentially violent, are expected this afternoon and evening," said the center.

At least 200,000 homes and businesses across the central United States were without power by Saturday evening, according to tracking site poweroutage.us.

The central and southern states of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas get the most violent ones due to their unique geographical and meteorological conditions.

Dubbed "Tornado Alley", this is where winds of widely varying temperatures meet in volatile, potent storm clouds, with most storms occurring from May to June.

In 2024, 54 people died in tornado-related incidents in the US, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Xinhua - Agencies