Tornado devastates Iowa town, killing several people

Several people were killed and at least a dozen injured when a powerful tornado tore through a small Iowa town, leaving in its wake a landscape of destroyed homes and businesses, shattered trees, crushed vehicles and scattered debris.

The tornado destroyed much of Greenfield, a town of about 2,000 people about 55 miles (88 kilometers) southwest of Des Moines, on Tuesday during a day that saw multiple tornadoes, giant hail and torrential rains in several states. .

Alex Dinkla of the Iowa State Patrol said at a news conference Tuesday night that there were several dead and at least a dozen injured in Greenfield.

Authorities said they would only allow residents into Greenfield until Wednesday morning, and ordered media outlets to leave the city Tuesday night.

After the storm, some parts of Greenfield were devastated. Piles of broken wood, branches, car parts and other debris covered the lots where houses once stood. Cars were smashed and twisted, while damaged houses formed a horizon of destruction under a gray, cloudy sky. The trees lost branches and leaves. Residents helped each other rescue furniture and other belongings from piles of rubble or from barely standing houses.

Rogue Paxton told WOI-TV that he took refuge in the basement of his house when the storm passed and that his family was lucky.

“Others, like my brother Cody, didn’t have it. Her house was just razed,” Paxton said. “Everything is going to be fine because we have each other, but it is going to be very, very hard. It is a disaster”.

Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channels Youtube, WhatsApp and to the newsletter. Turn on notifications and follow us on Facebook, x and instagram.