About four adults and two children were among those killed when a tornado hit Madison County in the US state of Iowa on yesterday, officials have confirmed.
No fewer than four other adults were injured in the tornado that caused ‘widespread damage to both homes and properties,’ the countyβs emergency management director told a press briefing which was monitored by Africa Daily News, New York on Sunday.
An official of the emergency management agency identified as Diogenes Ayala said told newsmen that; ‘This is, I think, the worst that anyone has seen in quite a long time,’ she went on to add that, ‘This will be impactful for many years to come.’
National Weather Service Des Moines tweeted at 7:30 pm (0130 GMT Sunday) that ‘the worst is over for central Iowa.’
She further suggested that ‘Storms are moving off to the East. Areas west of the line, including the Des Moines metro, are in the clear.’
NWS assured that its survey teams would thoroughly investigate the damage on Sunday and get back to the members of the public with its findings.
‘This is pretty devastating for our community,’ Ayala stated, adding that rescue efforts would continue overnight.
The Governor of Iowa Kim Reynolds had this morning issued a disaster proclamation for Madison County, which allows state resources to be used to assist with recovery.
‘Our hearts go out to all those affected by the deadly storms that tore through our state today,’ Reynolds said in a statement.
Africa Daily News, New York recalls that in December, dozens of devastating tornadoes ripped through five US states overnight, leaving at least 79 people dead in the city of Kentucky β with fatalities also recorded in Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
