WASHINGTON, 4 April 2006 — Thunderstorms battered eight states across the Midwest Sunday night with tornadoes and hail as big as softballs, killing at least 27 people, injuring dozens and destroying hundreds of homes.
Tennessee was hardest hit, where 19 deaths were reported in the western part of the state. Tornadoes followed a 25-mile path through five western counties, the National Weather Service said. State troopers sent teams into the area yesterday with search dogs, Highway Patrol spokeswoman Melissa McDonald said.
In Missouri, strong winds were blamed for at least three deaths. A clothing store collapsed in southern Illinois, killing one man and injuring several others.
Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes also struck parts of Iowa, Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana, leaving scores others injured and left vast destruction in their wake.
In Newbern, Tennessee, the twister carved a path through a cluster of homes near the Jimmy Dean Foods plant north of Newbern, where several victims died.
