ST LOUIS (Missouri, US), May 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least four people were killed when severe weather, including two possible tornadoes, swept through St. Louis, Missouri, on Friday afternoon, authorities said.
A spokesperson for both St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Barnes-Jewish Hospital said the facilities have received at least 35 patients in total, with the children’s facility getting 15 and Barnes-Jewish seeing at least 20, possibly 30 who were injured as a result of the severe weather.
The spokesperson said all but two patients at the children’s facility were expected to be released Friday night; one was reported earlier to be in critical condition. Some of those at Barnes-Jewish were to be released, while others were said to be in serious condition, the spokesperson said.
Mayor Cara Spencer announced the fatalities during a news conference. She said two of the dead were killed in North City, where a vortex was reported.
Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson said severe weather hit about 20 square blocks of the city. St. Louis police spokesperson Mitch McCoy said search-and-rescue operations were still underway Friday night with the help of the Missouri State Highway Patrol and surrounding county first responders.
“It’s all hands on deck to rescue as many people as we can and save lives,” he said.
The tornado was reported after 2:30 p.m. in the city near Forest Park and moving east toward Granite City, Illinois, said National Weather Service meteorologist Marshall Pfahler.
The station reported that a man was rescued from the rubble of a home after an hourslong operation. The residence was most likely smashed by a tornado or the severe weather’s associated potent winds in the area Friday, the station said.
“Considering the building collapsed on him, he’s doing great,” a fire official said after the man was pulled out.
The man had sought shelter in the home and ended up stuck inside, possibly in a pantry, KSDK said.
St. Louis city officials and police asked the public to stay put on Friday as they respond to the storm’s effects.
The nearby city of Clayton said its City Hall is closed as it coordinates a response to the severe weather.
Severe weather, including 11 unconfirmed tornadoes, was reported Thursday in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois, according to the weather service. — NNN-AGENCIES