Summary

  • A tornado strikes Little Rock, the state capital of Arkansas, destroying buildings and overturning cars

  • Twenty-four people are in hospital with injuries, the Little Rock mayor has said

  • There is also 'widespread' damage in the town of Wynne, about 100 miles from Little Rock

  • The devastation comes as series of tornadoes is sweeping the mid-west and south

  • The US National Weather Service has warned of a high-risk of tornadoes in several states as a result of a large storm system

  • It follows a deadly tornado that swept Mississippi last week, killing 25 people

Live Reporting

Edited by Phelan Chatterjee

  1. Biden visits tornado-hit Mississippi town

    Joe Biden visists Rolling Fork, MississippiReuters

    The tornado in Little Rock comes just one week after a rare, long-track twister killed 26 people in Mississippi.

    Earlier today, President Joe Biden visited the state to pay condolences and promise federal aid.

    The president and first lady drove through Rolling Fork viewing the damage left by a powerful tornado which reduced many of the community's 400 houses to unrecognisable debris.

    He said: "The thing that really always amazes me about all the tornadoes is that you have one house standing, one house from here to the wall, totally destroyed. But for the grace of God."

  2. State of emergency declared in Arkansas

    Governor of Arkansas Sarah Huckabee Sanders has declared a state of emergency.

    A short while ago she a photo of her signing the paperwork on Twitter.

    Sarah Huckabee Sanders tweetTwitter

  3. More extreme weather predicted across US

    Away from Arkansas, tens of millions of Americans are under storm warnings and advisories.

    The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch on Friday afternoon for east Texas through the mid-South and Midwest - even as far north as Wisconsin.

    "This is a particularly dangerous situation," the weather service said.

    According to the weather service, north-eastern Arkansas, southern Missouri, western Kentucky and Tennessee will see the worst weather, including tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds.

    Major cities like Chicago, Indianapolis, and Memphis might also see severe weather.

    Tornado caught on camera@Jwforr

    The tornado has been captured across the city

  4. Governor and mayor issue warnings to residents

    Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders tweeted that officials are working to assist the injured.

    And the mayor of Little Rock has been providing updates.

    Twitter screenshotTwitter
    Frank Scott JrTwitter

  5. What we know so far

    We are still getting information coming in from officials in Arkansas, but here is what we know so far:

    • A tornado hit Little Rock, Arkansas at around 14:25 local time (19:25 GMT)
    • At least a dozen people have been injured from the "devastating" twister, officials say
    • Nearly 70,000 people are without power in the state
    • There are also reports of significant damages to homes and buildings
    • One of the state's biggest hospitals, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Center, said it was expecting at least 15-20 patients from the twister
    • Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has declared an emergency in the state

  6. Moment weather presenter sees tornado

    Gem O'Reilly
    Live reporter

    A weather presenter spotted a strong a tornado as it travelled through Little Rock in Arkansas during a forecast on KTHV.

    The tornado was confirmed around 2:25pm, local time.

    Nearly 70,000 houses are without power in the Central Arkansas area.

    The presenter gives tornado warnings to locals in the area.

    The moment weather presenter spots tornado live on air

  7. Welcome

    Hello and welcome to our live coverage as a fierce tornado strikes the US city of Little Rock, Arkansas.

    The twister in the southern state comes amid severe storm and tornado warnings across several states.

    Widespread damage in Little Rock has been reported, with pictures from the city showing buildings destroyed and cars overturned.

    Reports of injuries are so far unconfirmed.