Latest news with #JimAkers
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tornado Outbreak Spawns At Least 50 Twisters Across 10 States, Killing 24
The cleanup is underway after multiple days of devastation in the Midwest and South from a tornado outbreak that killed at least 24 people. Here's the latest: The National Weather Service performed tornado damage surveys following the weekend's tornadoes in Arkansas and determined that two twisters received a violent EF4 rating (tornadoes are rated from EF0 to EF5 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, ranked from 0 to 5 based on severity of damage). One such tornado was confirmed in Izard County, Arkansas. The other, which had the most severe damage near Diaz in Jackson County, was determined to be a high-end EF4 tornado with maximum winds of 190 mph. For comparison, an EF5 tornado has winds of at least 201 mph, and no EF5 tornadoes have been confirmed in the United States since 2013. On Saturday alone, more than 30 tornadoes were reported across Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Extensive damage was reported across Mississippi and Alabama. Homes were severely damaged in Chilton, Dallas and Walker counties in Alabama. Drone video showed Tylertown, Mississippi, devastated after two tornadoes were reported in the area within an hour. In Colbert County, Alabama, baseball-sized hail was reported near the town of Tuscumbia. Missouri has reported at least 12 storm-related deaths, including six in hard-hit Wayne County and at least three in Ozark County. A victim in Butler County was killed when a tornado flattened his home. "It was unrecognizable as a home. Just a debris field," coroner Jim Akers told The Associated Press, "The floor was upside down. We were walking on walls." In Arkansas, three deaths were confirmed in Independence County, with dozens more injuries reported across at least eight counties. The numbers are expected to rise as search and rescue efforts continue in battered areas. The same storm system battered parts of the Plains on Friday, causing blinding dust storms and leading to deadly crashes that killed more than a dozen people.
Saudi Gazette
17-03-2025
- Climate
- Saudi Gazette
US tornadoes, wildfires and dust storms leave 40 dead and 'staggering' damage
WASHINGTON — At least 40 people have died after tornadoes ripped through a swathe of the US Midwest and South. Missouri bore the brunt of the twisters, which began to spawn on Friday. At least 12 people have died in that state. Powerful winds in Texas and Kansas whipped up dust storms that resulted in vehicle pile-ups and a dozen deaths. The extreme weather, covering an area of the country that is home to more than 100 million people, fanned nearly 150 deadly wildfires in Oklahoma. Fatalities were also recorded in Arkansas, Alabama and Mississippi. Parts of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Kentucky and North Carolina were under flood advisories. More than 320,000 people across the region were without power on Sunday evening, according to tracker PowerOutageUS. States of emergency have been declared in Arkansas, Georgia and Oklahoma. In Missouri, Governor Mike Kehoe said "the scale of devastation across our state is staggering". "Hundreds of homes, schools, and businesses have been either destroyed or severely damaged," his statement added. A tornado killed the occupant of one residence in Butler County in the Midwestern state, leaving it "unrecognisable as a home", according to local coroner Jim Akers. "Just a debris field," he added. "The floor was upside down. We were walking on walls." In Oklahoma, nearly 150 wildfires driven by winds that hit 83mph (133km/h) toppled several articulated lorries. The state's chief medical examiner said at least four people had died there as a result of fires or high winds. The blazes burnt 170,000 acres and destroyed nearly 300 structures, including a farmhouse owned by the state's Governor Kevin Stitt. In Kansas, at least eight people died after more than 55 vehicles crashed due to a dust storm. In Texas, another dust storm caused a pile-up of about 38 cars, leaving at least four people dead. Six people died in Mississippi as tornadoes swept through that state and twisters killed another three in Alabama, including an 82-year-old woman. In Arkansas, officials reported three deaths and 29 people injured. US President Donald Trump said the National Guard had been deployed to Arkansas to help with the storm response. "Please join Melania and me in praying for everyone impacted by these terrible storms!" he posted on his Truth social platform. — BBC
Gulf Today
16-03-2025
- Climate
- Gulf Today
Monster storm kills at least 17 across US, sparks threat of tornadoes and fire
The threat of violent tornadoes in parts of the US proved deadly as well as destructive as whipping winds moved east into the Mississippi Valley and Deep South on Saturday, with at least 17 people killed and scores of homes decimated. The most fatalities as of Saturday morning were in Missouri, authorities said, which was lashed by twisters overnight that resulted in at least 11 deaths. The Missouri State Highway Patrol also reported that multiple people were injured. The deaths included a man who was killed after a tornado ripped apart his home, "It was unrecognisable as a home. Just a debris field," said Coroner Jim Akers of Butler County, describing the scene that confronted rescuers when they arrived. "The floor was upside down. We were walking on walls." Rescuers managed to save a woman in the home, Akers said. Officials in Arkansas said on Saturday morning that three people died in Independence County and 29 others were injured across eight counties as storms passed through the state overnight. "We have teams out surveying the damage from last night's tornadoes and have first responders on the ground to assist,' Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on X. "In the meantime, I just released $250,000 from our Disaster Recovery fund to provide resources for this operation for each of the impacted communities.' On Friday, meanwhile, authorities said three people were killed in car crashes during a dust storm in Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle. The deaths come as a massive storm system moving across the country unleashed winds that triggered deadly dust storms and fanned more than 100 wildfires. Extreme weather conditions - including hurricane-force winds - are forecast to affect an area home to more than 100 million people. Winds gusting up to 80 mph (130 kph) were predicted from the Canadian border to Texas, threatening blizzard conditions in colder northern areas and wildfire risk in warmer, drier areas to the south. Evacuations were ordered in some Oklahoma communities as more than 130 fires were reported across the state. Nearly 300 homes have been damaged or destroyed in Oklahoma due to fire. Gov. Kevin Stitt said at a Saturday news conference that some 266 square miles (about 69 hectares) have burned so far in his state. The State Patrol said winds were so strong that they toppled several tractor-trailers. "This is terrible out here,' said Charles Daniel, a truck driver hauling a 48-foot (14.6-meter) trailer along Interstate 40 in western Oklahoma. "There's a lot of sand and dirt in the air. I'm not pushing it over 55 mph. I'm scared it will blow over if I do.' Experts say it's not unusual to see such weather extremes in March. The Storm Prediction Center said fast-moving storms could spawn twisters and hail as large as baseballs on Saturday, but the greatest threat would come from straight-line winds near or exceeding hurricane force, with gusts of 100 mph possible. Significant tornadoes, some of which could be long-track and violent, are expected Saturday afternoon and evening. The region at highest risk stretches from eastern Louisiana and Mississippi in the afternoon and then Alabama and western portions of Georgia and the Florida panhandle in the evening, the Center said. Apart from Oklahoma, wildfires elsewhere in the Southern Plains threatened to spread rapidly amid warm, dry weather and strong winds in Texas, Kansas, Missouri and New Mexico. A blaze in Roberts County, Texas, northeast of Amarillo, quickly blew up from less than a square mile (about 2 square kilometers) to an estimated 85 square kilometres, the Texas A&M University Forest Service said on X. Crews stopped its advance by Friday evening. About 90 kilometres to the south, another fire grew to about 10 square kilometres before its advance was halted in the afternoon. High winds also knocked out power to more than 260,000 homes and businesses in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana, according the website The National Weather Service issued blizzard warnings for parts of far western Minnesota and far eastern South Dakota starting early Saturday. Snow accumulations of 7.6 to 15.2 centimetres were expected, with up to a foot (30 centimeters) possible. Winds gusting to 97 kph were expected to cause whiteout conditions.
Euronews
16-03-2025
- Climate
- Euronews
Houthis say at least 31 killed after wave of US airstrikes on Yemen
A monster storm system sparked scores of tornadoes and wildfires that have ripped through parts of the United States, killing at least 32 people. Experts warn more severe weather is expected through the next 24-hour period. Eight people were killed in a vehicle collision in western Kansas' Sherman County after heavy winds produced blowing dust on a major highway. More than 50 vehicles were involved in the fatal accident. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves says six people were killed in three different counties while a further three people were reported missing. Almost 30 others were injured across the state. The central state of Missouri recorded more fatalities than any other state as scattered twisters overnight that killed at least 12, authorities said. One man died after a tornado completely ripped apart and destroyed his home. 'It was unrecognizable as a home. Just a debris field,' said Coroner Jim Akers of Butler County, describing the scene that confronted rescuers. 'The floor was upside down. We were walking on walls.' Officials in Arkansas said three people died in Independence County and 29 others were injured across eight counties. 'We have teams out surveying the damage from last night's tornadoes and have first responders on the ground to assist,' posted Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders on X. Sanders, Reeves and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared states of emergencies across their states. Kemp said he was doing so in anticipation of severe weather moving in, in the early hours of Sunday. On Friday, meanwhile, authorities said three people were killed in car crashes during a dust storm in Amarillo, in the Texas Panhandle. The massive storm system unleashed winds that triggered deadly dust storms and fanned more than 100 wildfires. Extreme weather conditions were forecast to affect an are that is home to more than 100 million people. Winds gusting up to 130 kmph were predicted from the Canadian border all the way down to Texas, threatening blizzard conditions in colder northern areas and wildfire risk in southern warmer and drier areas. Evacuations were ordered in some communities in Oklahoma as more than 130 wildfires were reported across the state. Nearly 300 homes were damaged or destroyed, according to Governor Kevin Still, who also added that fires burned across an area of 689 square km. The US National Weather Service also reported that the storms also brough about massive amounts of rain. Several areas experienced flooding with a lot more at risk. Authorities are urging residents in areas affected by the storms to remain indoors and exercise caution. US President Donald Trump said he ordered a series of airstrikes on Houthi-held areas in Yemen on Saturday, which the Houthis said killed at least 31 people. 'Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists' bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom,' Trump said in a social media post. 'No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.' He also warned Iran to stop supporting the rebel group, promising to hold the country 'fully accountable' for the actions of its proxy. It comes two weeks after the U.S. leader sent a letter to Iranian leaders offering a path to restarting bilateral talks between the countries on Iran's advancing nuclear programme. Trump has said he will not allow it to become operational. The Houthis reported explosions in their territory on Saturday evening, in the capital of Sanaa and the northern province of Saada, the rebels' stronghold on the border with Saudi Arabia, with more airstrikes reported in those areas early on Sunday. Images online showed plumes of black smoke over the area of the Sanaa airport complex, which includes a sprawling military facility. The Houthis also reported airstrikes early on Sunday on the provinces of Hodeida, Bayda, and Marib. The Houthi-run Health Ministry said early on Sunday that the death toll had climbed to 31, including women and children. Anees al-Asbahi, a spokesperson for the ministry, said Sunday that another 101 people were wounded. A U.S. official said this was the beginning of air strikes on Houthi targets that are expected to continue. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the press. Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, said the airstrikes won't deter them and they would retaliate against the U.S. 'Sanaa will remain Gaza's shield and support and will not abandon it no matter the challenges,' he added on social media. Another spokesman, Mohamed Abdulsalam, on X, called Trump's claims that the Houthis threaten international shipping routes 'false and misleading.' The airstrikes came a few days after the Houthis said they would resume attacks on Israeli vessels sailing off Yemen in response to Israel's latest blockade on Gaza. They described the warning as affecting the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Arabian Sea. There have been no Houthi attacks reported since then. Earlier this month, Israel halted all aid coming into Gaza and warned of 'additional consequences' for Hamas if their fragile ceasefire in the war isn't extended as negotiations continue over starting a second phase. The Houthis have targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors, during their campaign targeting military and civilian ships between the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in late 2023 and January of this year, when this ceasefire in Gaza took effect. The attacks raised the Houthis' profile as they faced economic and other problems at home amid Yemen's decade-long stalemated war that's torn apart the Arab world's poorest nation. The Houthi media office said the U.S. strikes hit a residential neighbourhood in Sanaa's northern district of Shouab. Residents said at least four airstrikes rocked the Eastern Geraf neighborhood there, terrifying women and children. 'The explosions were very strong,' said Abdallah al-Alffi. 'It was like an earthquake.' The Eastern Geraf is home to Houthi-held military facilities and a headquarters for the rebels' political bureau, located in a densely populated area. The Houthis reported fresh strikes on the southwestern Dhamar province on late Saturday. They said the strikes hit the outskirts of the provincial capital, also named Dhamar, and the district of Abs. The United States, Israel and Britain have previously hit Houthi-held areas in Yemen. Israel's military declined to comment. However, Saturday's operation was conducted solely by the U.S., according to a U.S. official. It was the first strike on the Yemen-based Houthis under the second Trump administration. Such broad-based missile strikes against the Houthis were carried out multiple times by the Biden administration in response to frequent attacks by the Houthis against commercial and military vessels in the region. The USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, which includes the carrier, three Navy destroyers and one cruiser, are in the Red Sea and were part of Saturday's mission. The USS Georgia cruise missile submarine has also been operating in the region. Trump announced the strikes as he spent the day at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. 'These relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk,' Trump said. US President Donald Trump launched a series of airstrikes on Yemen's capital, Sanaa, promising to use "overwhelming lethal force" until Iranian-backed Houthi rebels stop attacking ships in a vital maritime corridor. Nine civilians were killed, according to the Houthis. In a social media post, Trump said, 'Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists' bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom,' adding, 'No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.' He also warned Iran against supporting the rebel group, vowing to hold the country 'fully accountable' for its proxy's actions. The warning comes two weeks after Trump sent a letter to Iranian leaders offering a path to restart bilateral talks on Iran's advancing nuclear weapons program, something he has vowed not to let become operational. The airstrikes follow a recent Houthi declaration that they would resume attacks on Israeli vessels in response to Israel's blockade of Gaza. No Houthi attacks have been reported since that statement. The Houthis reported a series of explosions in their territory Saturday evening. Residents said at least four airstrikes struck the Eastern Geraf neighborhood, where terrified families were caught in the blasts. Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, insisted the airstrikes would not deter the group, vowing retaliation against the U.S. 'Sanaa will remain Gaza's shield and support and will not abandon it no matter the challenges,' he wrote on social media. While the US, Israel, and Britain have previously launched strikes on Houthi-controlled areas, Israel's military declined to comment on Saturday's operation. A US official confirmed that the strikes were carried out solely by American forces, the first such operation under Trump's second administration, following a period of relative calm in the region.
The Independent
16-03-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
At least 26 dead and dozens injured as monster storm threaten several states
At least 26 people across four states have died and dozens more are injured after a violent storm system swept across the country, slamming the Mississippi Valley and Deep South. A brutal combination of tornadoes, severe storms and whipping winds has left at least 12 dead in Missouri, the Associated Press reports. Another eight died in Kansas on Friday in a highway pile-up involving 50 vehicles amid a dust storm. Then, after a dust storm ripped through Texas on Friday, the state's department of public safety reported three deaths in three separate car crashes due to low visibility and high winds. Another three people also died in Arkansas amid the storms. One man was killed after a tornado tore apart his home. "It was unrecognizable as a home. Just a debris field," Butler County, Missouri Coroner Jim Akers told the Associated Press. "The floor was upside down. We were walking on walls." A woman in the home was saved by rescuers, the outlet noted. Americans across the country could see extreme weather conditions this weekend as the storm system moves east. Some 200,000 Americans are without power across as of Saturday evening, according to A 'tornado outbreak' is expected across the central Gulf Coast states and Deep South on Saturday night, according to the Storm Prediction Center. Heavy winds threaten a wall of states between the northern Michigan to the Florida panhandle, with gusts predicted to reach up to 50 mph in some states, according to the National Weather Service. Minnesota and the Dakotas could even see blizzards, with forceful winds and heavy snowfall of up to eight inches expected through Saturday afternoon and evening. While states in the northern U.S. get dumped with snow, fires are devastating Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas. In some Oklahoma communities, officials ordered locals to evacuate as more than 130 fires were reported across the state, the Associated Press reported. At a press conference Saturday, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt said nearly 300 homes were damaged and more than 170,000 acres had burned due to the fires. --- Additional reporting by AP.
