Heavy storms with at least one tornado in the US state of Kansas injured several people and damaged numerous homes. In the Sedgwick district, which also includes Kansas’ largest city, Wichita, and in the Butler district, eight people were injured, one of them seriously, the heads of the responsible emergency services said at a press conference on Saturday night (local time). The broadcaster CNN reported twelve slightly injured, citing Wichita’s fire department. Andover, a Wichita suburb, was particularly hard hit. Emergency services would search the area for other possible victims.
According to Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple, around 50 to 100 buildings were damaged in the area. In Andover, according to local fire chief Chad Russell, more than 900 buildings were in the path of the tornado. However, the exact extent of the damage is still unclear.
Residents should not leave their homes
Russell called on residents not to return to their homes for the time being, even in the face of numerous fallen power poles. Footage on social media showed destructive gusts of wind sweeping through the region. Cars flew through the air, houses and shops were smashed. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly declared a state of emergency.