Deaths, injuries confirmed in Missouri after devastating early morning tornado

A tornado in southeastern Missouri early Wednesday caused “injuries and fatalities,” the state’s highway patrol said, in the latest devastating storm to rock the U.S.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol did not disclose how many people were killed or hurt by the twister, which touched down in Bollinger County, about 110 miles south of St. Louis.

“The Patrol is assisting Bollinger County and multiple local agencies in search and recovery efforts after a tornado in the Glenallen area,” MSHP tweeted.

The National Weather Service plans Wednesday to assess the damage left by the tornado, which meteorologist Justin Gibbs says appeared to travel between 15 and 20 miles on the ground.

“A tornado definitely touched down, there is damage to homes, we know that, there have been people injured, we don’t know the extent,” Gibbs said.

Officials also confirmed two tornadoes in Illinois on Tuesday, while Iowa was struck by thunderstorms and hail.

Another 40 million people — including those in major cities such as Chicago, Detroit and Indianapolis — faced the potential of severe weather later Wednesday, the Storm Prediction Center said.

[ Biden declares major disaster in Arkansas, approves federal aid after tornadoes ]

The bad weather comes a little over a week after a tornado killed more than 20 people in Mississippi. More than 30 deaths were then reported from a series of suspected tornadoes that ripped through states including Arkansas and Tennessee last week.

President Biden authorized federal aid in Mississippi and Arkansas in the aftermaths of those storms.

“While we are still assessing the full extent of the damage, we know families across America are mourning the loss of loved ones, desperately waiting for news of others fighting for their lives, and sorting through the rubble of their homes and businesses,” Biden said Sunday after declaring a major disaster in Arkansas.

With News Wire Services