A deadly tornado outbreak swept across parts of the central United States on Friday, March 6, leaving several people dead and causing widespread damage in multiple states.
Early reports say at least eight people were killed as tornadoes struck communities in states including Michigan and Oklahoma. Emergency crews spent Saturday searching damaged areas and assessing destruction while the National Weather Service works to confirm how many tornadoes touched down during the outbreak.
Some of the most severe damage occurred in southern Michigan, where a tornado hit areas near Union City and along the St. Joseph River. Officials in Branch County confirmed multiple fatalities and several injuries after homes were torn apart and debris scattered across roads and farmland. Another death was reported in nearby Cass County as the storm system moved through the region.
Residents described roofs ripped from houses, trees snapped in half, and vehicles thrown across yards. Hundreds of people were left without power overnight as crews worked to clear roads and restore electricity.
Earlier in the outbreak, two people were killed in western Oklahoma after a tornado struck near Fairview. Authorities said a mother and her teenage daughter died when their vehicle was caught in the storm along U.S. Highway 60. They have been identified as mother and daughter, Jodie and Lexi Owens.
Additional fatalities were reported in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, where a tornado damaged homes and businesses in the town of Beggs. Emergency crews responded to reports of destroyed buildings, overturned vehicles, and downed power lines as the storms moved through the area.
The storms were part of a larger severe weather system that moved across the Plains and Midwest between Thursday and Saturday, producing several tornado warnings and large areas of damaging winds and hail.
Meteorologists say it may take several days for the National Weather Service to complete damage surveys and determine how many tornadoes formed and how strong they were.
Officials are urging residents in affected areas to remain cautious around damaged buildings and downed power lines as cleanup efforts continue.
