Hundreds of homes have been damaged and nearly 10,000 people are without power after a tornado struck parts of Omaha, in the US state of Nebraska.
A number of tornadoes were reported across the state, but the most severe affected suburbs northwest of the city, which has a population of 485,000.
The damaged homes were mostly in the Elkhorn area, police said, and rescuers were going door to door to help people trapped in the rubble.
Elkhorn residents Pat and Kim Woods said they took shelter when the tornado was about 200 yards away.
“We could hear it go by,” Mr. Woods said.
“When we arrived, our fence was gone and we looked to the northwest and the whole neighborhood was gone.”
Ms Woods added: “The whole area just north of us is quite flattened. »
Near Omaha. Photo: Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald/AP
But while some homes in the area have been destroyed, others appear intact.
No deaths were reported, but a number of people suffered minor injuries, according to Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer, who added: “People were warned about this and it saved lives “.
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One of the other tornadoes passed through parts of Eppley Airfield, the city’s airport, which was closed for nearly an hour.
Passengers were sent to storm shelters, according to Steve McCoy, director of strategy for the Omaha Airport Authority.
The terminal was not affected but other buildings at the airport “remained damaged”.
The airport has now reopened, although flight delays are expected until Friday.
Lincoln. Photo: Kenneth Ferriera/Lincoln Journal Star/AP
North of Waverly. Photo: Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald/AP
The tornado then crossed the Missouri River into Iowa, where damage is still being reported.
Daniel Fienhold, owner of a steakhouse in Crescent, Iowa, said he monitors the weather from outside with his daughter and employees.
“It started to rain, then it started to hail, then all the clouds started to swirl and gather, and as soon as the wind started to pick up, that’s when I “I headed down to the basement, but we never saw it,” he said.
Three workers at an industrial plant were injured when another tornado struck Friday afternoon near the town of Lincoln, Nebraska.
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The building collapsed with around 70 people inside and several had to be rescued from the rubble.
The weekend is unlikely to bring relief – The weather service has issued tornado warnings for parts of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.
