Tornado rips through northeastern Arkansas leveling homes and businesses as mayor imposes curfew

Huge tornado rips through Jonesboro in Arkansas, leveling homes and businesses as thousands remain in lockdown during coronavirus crisis

  • At least three people were injured in Jonesboro, Arkansas, on Saturday 
  • Tornado ripped through the town, tearing roofs off homes and leveling shops 
  • Mayor Harold Perrin issued a citywide curfew for 7pm on Saturday
  • Rescue workers were searching for possible victims in destroyed shopping mall 
  • Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?

Businesses and homes suffered damage and a citywide curfew was announced in northeastern Arkansas after a tornado ripped through the area on Saturday afternoon, injuring at least three people.

The twister caused considerable damage in Jonesboro, where the Mayor announced a curfew for 7pm.

Dramatic video posted to social media shows how the tornado’s fierce winds sent debris flying.

The image above shows a tornado touching down in Jonesboro, Arkansas, on Saturday afternoon

The powerful tornado destroyed homes and businesses, leaving fields of debris in Jonesboro, Arkansas, on Saturday

The powerful tornado destroyed homes and businesses, leaving fields of debris in Jonesboro, Arkansas, on Saturday

The powerful tornado destroyed homes and businesses, leaving fields of debris in Jonesboro, Arkansas, on Saturday

Arkansas officials told KAIT-TV that first responders were trying to rescue possible victims trapped under the debris of a mall.

The force of the tornado was so great that it sent debris some four miles high, according to experts who analyzed the data.

Cars were overturned, the roofs of houses were torn off, and shards of mangled metal were seen strewn across roadways, according to KNWA-TV. 

Jonesboro E-911 Director Jeff Presley tells TV station KAIT that most stores in the Mall at Turtle Creek were closed Saturday to help in fight against spreading coronavirus pandemic. 

The National Weather Service tweeted a video from the Arkansas Department of Transportation that showed a large tornado dropping from storm clouds in Jonesboro.

Dramatic video posted to social media shows the powerful tornado send debris flying into the air in Jonesboro on Saturday

Dramatic video posted to social media shows the powerful tornado send debris flying into the air in Jonesboro on Saturday

Dramatic video posted to social media shows the powerful tornado send debris flying into the air in Jonesboro on Saturday

Authorities said that they were searching for possible victims under the debris of a shopping mall

Authorities said that they were searching for possible victims under the debris of a shopping mall

Authorities said that they were searching for possible victims under the debris of a shopping mall

At least three people were injured as a result of the tornado in northeastern Arkansas on Saturday

At least three people were injured as a result of the tornado in northeastern Arkansas on Saturday

At least three people were injured as a result of the tornado in northeastern Arkansas on Saturday

US House Rep. Rick Crawford, who represents much of eastern Arkansas, said on Twitter that a tornado tore through ‘the heart of town’ and asked for prayers for first responders. 

Crawford said his staff and family were safe.

Forecasters with the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, warned that a severe weather outbreak was possible later Saturday for much of the central US Forecasters said tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds are possible, particularly in parts of Illinois and Iowa.  

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson said on Saturday that he was ‘paying close attention to the report of a tornado hit in Jonesboro. 

‘I know there is property damage. Just praying all is safe.’ 

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