At least two people have been killed after tornadoes tore through parts of northern Texas, leaving widespread destruction and displacing dozens of families, authorities said.
Officials said one person was killed Saturday night in the town of Runaway Bay, where many houses were badly damaged.
Wise County Judge JD Clark said emergency crews worked through the night to clear debris, reach affected homes and provide medical assistance.
“Access has been difficult due to blocked roadways and downed utilities, but crews have continued pushing forward to reach those in need,” Clark said.
The storm also struck nearby Springtown, where Parker County Assistant Fire Chief David Pruitt confirmed a second death south of the city. He said the area suffered “significant damage,” with widespread power outages affecting many residents.
According to the National Weather Service, an EF-2 tornado with winds reaching up to 135 mph (217 kph) hit the Runaway Bay area, while an EF-1 tornado with winds of up to 105 mph (169 kph) was reported in Springtown.
Meteorologist Patricia Sanchez said the slow-moving storm system passed through the region around 10pm Saturday, moving southeast from near Wichita Falls along the Oklahoma border and passing west of Fort Worth.
Runaway Bay lies about 45 miles northwest of Fort Worth, while Springtown is roughly 30 miles from the city.
Weather radar also detected a “potentially large and extremely dangerous” tornado near Azle at around 10:14pm Saturday, further raising concerns as the storm moved across the region.
