A massive tornado swept through the Arkansas capital and surrounding region, injuring at least 600 people.
The “catastrophic” twister touched down on Little Rock near Reservoir Road around 2:25 p.m. Friday and continued into Jacksonville. It destroyed roofs and houses, overturned vehicles and left debris in its path of destruction.
Local emergency medical services estimate that at least 600 people were injured THV11 digital. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences declared a mass casualty event and numerous hospitals in Little Rock saw a surge in patients.
As of 3:40 p.m., officials confirmed at least two twisters.
A video captured by Baptist Health Medical Center and shared on Twitter showed a giant gray tornado formation making its way through Little Rock.
The National Weather Service confirmed that a “large and destructive tornado” passed through the Little Rock and North Little Rock neighborhoods and business districts. It endangered more than 350,000 people.
Nearly 94,000 homes were without power in central Arkansas, and more than 54,000 homes in Pulaski County were without power.
Mayor Frank Scott said he was in touch with Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who activated the state’s National Guard shortly after 4 p.m. They will “spare no resource to assist in response and recovery efforts for affected Arkansans,” Sanders said.
At least one tornado devastated the Little Rock area exactly one week after deadly tornadoes swept through Mississippi, killing at least 21 people. Last Friday, a mother went to the hospital to give birth to a son lost her 2-year-old daughter which she left with her parents in a Silver City mobile home that was in the path of a tornado.
Eight employees at Chuck’s Dairy Bar in Rolling Fork had much luck that day: They survived a tornado that sent the restaurant flying to pieces hiding in a walk-in refrigerator.
At least 20 states were warned of a severe weather outbreak involving tornadoes.
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