An alleged tornado that swept through parts of Kansas damaged many buildings, injured several people and left more than 6,500 people without electricity, officials said.
Officials said the alleged twister had moved through parts of southeastern Wichita and Andover on Friday night. Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell told a news conference Saturday morning that 50 to 100 buildings had been damaged in Sedgwick County, although it was not immediately known how many buildings had been damaged in Andover.
Firefighters searched a home in Andover. Photo: Travis Haying / AP
Russell said homes in some neighborhoods had been completely blown up.
Authorities said only a few people were reported injured. In Sedgwick County, three people were injured, including a woman who was seriously injured. Russell said no injuries were reported in Butler County, but a secondary assessment will be made on Saturday.
Russell said that although it was not immediately known how many buildings were damaged, more than 900 structures were in the way of the alleged tornado.
He said some neighborhoods were “damaged enough that the houses were completely blown up” and cited areas that had suffered “very severe damage”.
The town hall also suffered damage, which hampered “some of our efforts,” Russell said. Other buildings reportedly damaged include Dr. Jim Farha Andover YMCA and Prairie Creek Elementary School.
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