6 Dead, 80,000 Homes Without Power After Tornado Hits Tennessee, USA

A tornado struck central Tennessee in the United States, killing 6 people and injuring more than 20.

On the 10th (local time), AP and AFP reported that the tornado hit Montgomery County in central Tennessee the previous day, killing 3 people including children, and another 3 died in the suburbs of Nashville.

Among the fatalities in the Nashville suburbs, one person was staying in a mobile home when the tornado struck. The tornado's force caused the mobile home to be lifted and crash into another house, resulting in the deaths of a mother and her two-year-old child who were inside that house.

At Montgomery County Hospital, 23 people injured by the tornado received treatment. According to Nashville police, this included two children who were critically injured.

On the 9th (local time), a building in Hendersonville, Tennessee, USA, collapsed due to a tornado. [Image source=Reuters, Yonhap News]

Truck overturned by a tornado that struck Tennessee, USA, on the 9th (local time)
[Image source=AP, Yonhap News]

Emergency responders said, "We are still in the search and rescue phase," and urged residents to stay away from the roads.

There was also significant property damage. Power outage tracking site PowerOutage reported that more than 80,000 households in Tennessee experienced power outages the previous night. Strong winds tore off parts of houses, toppled trees, overturned vehicles, and damaged power lines.

Photos posted on social media by the Clarksville Fire Department in Montgomery County show debris from damaged houses scattered across lawns, a tow trailer overturned on the highway, and insulation torn from building walls.

Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts said in a statement, "This is shocking news. We extend our condolences to the families who lost their loved ones," and added, "City authorities are ready to assist them."

The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) had previously issued multiple tornado warnings for Tennessee. According to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, the tornado made landfall in the area at 2 p.m. on the 9th. Authorities set up shelters at local high schools and urged residents to stay indoors.

On the 9th (local time), a vehicle trapped under the debris of buildings collapsed by a tornado that struck Tennessee, USA. [Image source=Reuters, Yonhap News]