St. Louis, Missouri – A powerful tornado struck St. Louis on Friday evening, causing widespread destruction, killing at least five people, and damaging over 5,000 buildings. The tornado tore through the city, uprooting trees, ripping roofs off houses, and downing power lines along a major road.
The St. Louis Fire Department conducted house-by-house searches in the hardest-hit areas, with emergency teams working through the night. Approximately 100,000 properties lost power following the storm.
The US National Weather Service (NWS) reported the tornado touched down shortly after 2:30 p.m. local time near Forest Park, a well-known city landmark that houses the St. Louis Zoo and was the site of the 1904 Olympic Games. The tornado’s path caused significant damage to residential neighborhoods and public infrastructure.
Three people required rescue after the partial collapse of the Centennial Christian Church, with one casualty confirmed. Authorities imposed a curfew from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. in the most severely impacted areas to protect residents from debris-related injuries and to deter potential looting.
St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer expressed condolences and vowed to support the community: “Our city is grieving tonight. The loss of life and the destruction is truly, truly horrendous. We will have a lot of work ahead, but our immediate focus is saving lives, keeping people safe, and allowing our community space to grieve.”
The NWS also confirmed six other tornadoes struck parts of Missouri and neighboring Illinois on Friday, with severe weather extending eastward toward the Atlantic coast.
Residents and officials continue to assess the damage as recovery efforts begin across St. Louis.
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