Tornado sweeps across Kansas; 3 students killed in crash

HIVITA, Kansas (AP) – tornado ripping through parts of Kansas destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes and buildings, several people were injured people and left more than 15000 people without power, officials said on Saturday.

In addition to debris from the tornado itself, three universities of Oklahoma weather students travel back from chasing the storm in Kansas were also killed in a crash According to officials, Friday evening.

Nicholas Nair, 20 of Denton, Texas; Gavin Short, 19 of Grayslake, Illinois; and Drake Brooks, 22 of Evansville, Indiana, deceased in in crash just before 11:30 p.m. Friday, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol report.

Three were in a vehicle driving naira southbound on Interstate 35 when vehicle hydroplaning and was hit by a tractor with a trailer in Tonkawa, about 85 miles (137 kilometers) north of Oklahoma City, the report said.

A statement released by the OU said: “The university is devastated to study of tragic departure of three students. Everyone was appreciated and loved by the participants of our community”.

More than 1,000 buildings were damaged when a powerful tornado swept through Andover. on According to the authorities, Friday evening. Saturday afternoon emergency crews found a more widely spread path of destruction than previously thought.

“We are now know that our damage path extended approximately 3 1/2 to 4 miles (5.6 to 6.4 km) to north of where we thought it ended last night,” Andover Deputy Fire Chief Mike Roosevelt said at a briefing.

Reports of deaths or critical injuries from the tornado itself, despite widespread destruction. Officials reported that only a few casualties were recorded. There are three in Sedgwick County people were injured, including one female who received serious injuries.

Search and rescue operations continued on Saturday with more over 200 emergency services from 30 agencies. Officials kept the volunteers away from harm until a second search. of the wreckage is done.

Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell said earlier that in some areas homes “They were completely baffled.”

There is homes completely bewildered off their foundations and entire neighborhoods are erased outRussell said.

Buildings badly damaged included City Hall, Andover YMCA, and Prairie Creek Elementary School.

National Weather Service field crews worked Saturday to determine the extent and strength of the of a tornado, said meteorologist Kevin Darmofal in Wichita. office.

Flor and Aldo Delgado said they prayed in basement of their andover home how a tornado passed right over them, destroying them home and cars.

The couple looked out of out the window on a Friday night and saw that a tornado was starting to form, so they headed to the basement.

“The lights started flickering and eventually went out. out and a minute after that all house started shaking and it was so loud. We began to feel the water hitting our faces, and just dust everywhere. It has continued for what did you feel like minute that it was right over usAldo Delgado said.

Flor Delgado said she heard them. home torn as they prayed for their safetyWichita Eagle reports.

“At that moment, I realized that there is absolutely nothing we can do. I knew mine husband felt it too, because he was calm and consoled me, but in one dot he just starts to lose it and cry. i could hear him voice crackles when he prays,” she said.

When the tornado passed, the couple made This is out of debris with only clothes on their backs. Their home cars and personal items gone.

“We didn’t even have wedding rings. on at that time” – Flor Delgado added.

Governor Laura Kelly proclaimed state of Emergency for the hardest-hit areas. Declaration constitutes state resources available to help local jurisdictions with answer and recovery efforts in affected areas across the state.

Evergy says it has lost about 15,000 customers power during a tornado and what work continued to restore electricity. Any damaged gas and water pipelines were shut off and by noon it was not known active leaks.

In addition to tornadoes, major hail was reported. in several cities on the plains. welcome size of Softballs were spotted near Holbrook, Nebraska and Enterprise, Kansas, according to the National Weather Service and Storm Watchers.

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