A strong tornado that went through central Iowa on Saturday killed seven people, two of whom were children.
On Sunday, Mike Lamb, Lucas County Emergency Management Coordinator, informed ABC News that one person had been killed in Chariton, Iowa.
According to Madison County’s Emergency Management Agency, at least four individuals were wounded in Madison County. These four persons were all injured, but only one of them was critically injured.
Officials said the two children were both under the age of five.
The National Weather Service reports that an EF-3 tornado struck the Winterset, Iowa, region about southwest of Des Moines at around 4:30 p.m. on Monday.
“Initial interrogation of photos and videos from around Winterset suggests at least EF3 tornado damage occurred late Saturday afternoon,” the Des Moines NWS office shared on Twitter. “NWS survey teams will be out Sunday to thoroughly investigate the damage and further assess a potential rating.”
Videos and photos coming from various cities across central Iowa have shown many severely damaged residences.
According to the head of Madison County’s Emergency Management Agency, Diogenes Ayala, the victims were located in a variety of areas. He doesn’t think anybody is still missing.
“Everyone’s been all hands on deck,” Ayala said. “As soon as it hit the ground, people were out looking to assist, search and rescue efforts, so it’s been nonstop. And we’ll be doing this all night.”
Ayala estimated the number of houses destroyed in the region north of Winterset to be in the range of 25 to 30.
“This is the worst that anyone’s seen in quite a long time,” he added.
Winterset authorities said the Red Cross has deployed an emergency center at the New Bridge Church.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to all those affected by today’s tragic storms that ripped through our state,” Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said on Twitter.
Madison County was also declared a disaster-struck area by Reynolds.
