At least five people, including children, are dead after a powerful tornado barreled into a crowded gas station in Texas, Saturday night — causing the whole structure to collapse.
Up to 80 people were injured, and officials warning the death toll is likely “going to go up.”
The tornado in Valley View — about 60 miles north of Dallas — was just one of several devastating twisters reported across the Lone Star State, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Cooke County Sheriff Ray Sappington confirmed were killed in the severe overnight storm that struck the AP Travel Center, which includes as Shell gas station and restaurants south of town — injuring between 60 and 80 people taking shelter inside.
Dozens of panicked drivers had pulled into the gas station to get off the road during the dangerous weather, only to be caught directly in the path of the tornado.
Numerous people had to be rescued after being trapped inside.
“I can also tell you that number is going to go up,” Sappington told WFAA of the death toll. “I don’t want to speculate and give you a number.”
Search-and-rescue efforts remain underway at the gas station and in a nearby neighborhood.
5 At least five people were killed in a powerful overnight tornado in Texas and Oklahoma. AP
“It took some time to get back in there because of all the damage with the power lines, and trees were down. It was kind of a monumental task just to get back to where they were,” Sappington added.
Sappington urged locals to stay away from the storm damage, noting numerous reports of downed power lines and gas leaks that could cause serious injury if encountered.
5 Cooke County Sheriff Ray Sappington said children were among the deceased. WFAA
Still, the sheriff was confident in their ability to come back from the serious deadly storm.
“We’ll rebuild,” he said. “It’s Texas. We can rebuild property, and as horrible as this looks, in two or three months, it won’t look like this [then]. It’ll be better. But the loss of life is just tragic. It’s always tragic. That’s what hurts the most.”
5 Up to 80 people seeking shelter at a truck stop were also injured in the storm. Getty Images
Two children were also reported missing in Cooke County following the storm, Sappington said.
Forecasters had issued tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings for parts of both states Saturday, as heat records were broken over the long holiday weekend.
As the storm moved through the region it overturned motorhomes brought down powerlines and trees and made some roads completely inaccessible.
5 The storm left extreme damage and debris, including downed power lines and gas leaks. Getty Images
On Saturday night the National Weather Service’s office in Norman, Oklahoma, warned areas north of Oklahoma City to “take cover now!” In a follow-up post at 10:05 p.m., the agency noted the storms had left the area and were headed across north Texas.
By 10:24 p.m. the weather service office in Fort Worth began to warn of the storm moving through the region, issuing a severe thunderstorm warning with possible “golf-ball-sized hail.”
The Norman office had compared conditions Saturday to “ a gasoline-soaked brush pile” and forecasters warned storms would likely come with large hail, dangerous winds and tornadoes.
5 The storm is expected to move toward North Carolina by Monday. Getty Images
The storm system was expected to move east as Memorial Day weekend continues, bringing rain that could delay the Indianapolis 500 auto race Sunday and more severe storms in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Kentucky.
The risk of severe weather is expected to move into North Carolina and Virginia on Monday, forecasters said.
With Post wires.
5 killed including kids, 80 hurt in Texas, Oklahoma tornado
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