US Arkansas tornado kills 3, Illinois storm leaves 1 dead

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
1 Apr 2023 08:31
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A deadly storm system swept through the US’s midsection Friday. Tornadoes concurrently cut paths through Midwest and South.

A home is damaged and trees are down after a tornado swept through Little Rock. (AP)

Three people were killed by a "catastrophic" tornado that ripped across the US state of Arkansas on Friday, while severe storms further north caused the roof of an Illinois theater to collapse, leaving one person dead and 28 others injured, according to local police.

The Arkansas tornado whipped across the state in the afternoon, causing what Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders described as "widespread damage."

Sanders further stated that two people were killed in the town of Wynne in the eastern part of Arkansas, while an official in Pulaski County, which surrounds the capital Little Rock, affirmed a fatality there.

"Significant damage has occurred in Central Arkansas," Sanders tweeted.

Widespread damage in Wynne. I’ve been in touch with local officials for updates and to direct state resources. Please follow the direction of local authorities.

Praying for the safety of all Arkansans who are in the path of these storms.
— Sarah Huckabee Sanders (@SarahHuckabee) March 31, 2023

Frank Scott Jr., the mayor of Little Rock, stated that "almost 30 individuals have been brought to our local hospitals."

For parts of the nearby states of Tennessee, Illinois, and Iowa, the National Weather Service issued tornado warnings.

Calamity struck Belvidere, Illinois, when bad weather caused the Apollo Theater's roof and a portion of its exterior to fall as a heavy metal band was performing there.

I’m in Belvidere, where a roof collapsed onto a crowd during a Morbid Angel concert. 1 person is dead, 28 injured.

Eerie scene. Power out. The Apollo Theater’s marquee is crashed on the ground. A buildings exterior bricks pulled down. The band is loading its van. pic.twitter.com/1F2srxd7Q7
— Jake Sheridan (@JakeSheridan_) April 1, 2023

"More than 20 ambulances were reportedly called to the scene," Fox 32, a Chicago TV affiliate, reported.

Belvidere Fire Chief Shawn Schadle reported one dead and 28 wounded in the disaster, with five hospitalized with critical injuries.

Injured concertgoers were being transported by emergency services on stretchers, as seen on television. Social media users shared videos of the performance venue's floor covered in debris, some of which was nearly waist-high, and a large hole in the roof.