A tornado sweeps across the US state of Tennessee. Eight people die, numerous houses are badly damaged. The full extent of the destruction is not yet in sight.
Nashville (dpa) - In the US state of Tennessee, at least eight people died as a result of a tornado and serious damage was caused. This was a "very tragic and difficult day" for Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee told journalists Tuesday morning (local time).
As a result, numerous houses and buildings in the city of Nashville and neighboring areas were badly damaged, many trees had fallen over, and thousands of households without electricity. Roads and bridges have also been damaged, said the civil protection. An emergency has been declared for the southeastern state of Tennessee.
TV recordings showed in places a picture of the devastation. The exact number of injuries is still unclear, said the civil protection. The authority warned residents not to enter damaged buildings at first. The exact number of households that ran out of electricity in the state due to the night storm was still unclear. The utility Nashville Electric said on Twitter that there were 47,000 people without electricity in the urban area.
The local television station WKRN reported that at least 150 people had been treated in hospitals. The station also spoke of at least nine deaths. Authorities officials told journalists that the full extent of the situation is not yet foreseeable.
US President Donald Trump said on Twitter that the government is ready to help people in Tennessee "in this difficult time". He prayed for everyone affected by the "devastating tornadoes".
A Putnam district police spokesman told WKRN that officials went from house to house in the most severely affected areas to help local residents in need. Several people would still be missing as the official said. The storm had swept over the affected areas at night.
Report from local TV station WKRN, English
Civil Protection Report, English
Tweet US Senator Blackburn, English
Electricity supplier, English