Tornadoes tore through several states Sunday evening as severe weather slammed into parts of the central United States.
Authorities confirmed at least nine fatalities: eight in Arkansas and one in Oklahoma.
Damage is “widespread” after a tornado hit Mayflower, Arkansas, and there are numerous reports of injuries, said Matt DeCample, a spokesman for the state’s governor.
Damage is also widespread in Vilonia, north of Little Rock, he said.
“I can’t even get down the main street down to the middle of town,” Vilonia Mayor James Firestone said.
“I am trying to make my way through the downed trees and power lines. What I am seeing, it is a lot of damage. I’ve been listening to the rescue folks. They’re saying people have to be extracted from vehicles. … It looks pretty bad. From what I understand, there has been a subdivision that’s been leveled.”
In Mayflower, overturned, smashed cars were visible along the freeway as search and rescue teams combed the area, CNN informs.
