One dead as tornadoes rip through south and midwest United States

One person was reported killed by tornadoes wreaking havoc in the South and Midwest United States on Wednesday, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Parts of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Mississippi, and other states are facing power outages, severe flooding risks, and damage to homes and infrastructure due to these tornadoes.
The National Weather Service issued a warning on social media for northeast Arkansas, saying, "This is a life-threatening situation. Seek shelter now." It further described the prolonged rainfall as a "once-in-a-lifetime event.
Forecasters attributed the extreme weather to a combination of unstable atmospheric conditions, strong winds, and heavy moisture from the Gulf.

According to news agency Associated Press, more than 90 million people remain under severe weather alerts, covering a massive area from Texas to Minnesota and Maine.
In Blytheville, Arkansas, a powerful twister lifted debris nearly 7.6 kilometres into the air.
In Missouri, homes were damaged, vehicles overturned, and power poles snapped. In Arkansas, at least 22 counties reported storm-related destruction. Roads were closed in several locations due to fallen trees and utility lines.
In Indiana, severe thunderstorms flooded streets, with water reaching car windows in parts of Indianapolis. A warehouse collapse in Brownsburg temporarily trapped a person inside, while five semi-trucks were blown over on a highway near Lowell.
Meanwhile, in Oklahoma, a tornado struck Owasso early Wednesday, damaging homes and knocking down trees and power lines.
Power outages affected nearly 90,000 customers across Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
In the coming days, there is a risk of dangerous flash flooding in the South and Midwest as strong thunderstorms move east. The National Weather Service warned that heavy storms could cause serious, life-threatening floods every day until Saturday.