Imagery has surfaced showing the destructive power of the tornadoes that tore through southern Oklahoma, killing four people, injuring about 100, and leaving thousands without power.
Videos and pictures on social media show just how violent Saturday's tornado was in the small towns of Sulphur, Holdenville, and Marietta, Oklahoma.
The winds were so strong that small branches impaled walls and the funnel ripped through massive structures, flattened buildings, and flipped over cars like toys.
A tornado hit Matietta, OK. Destroying the Family Dollar Distribution center. It also hit a Dollar store, hospital and flipped cars and semis on I-35. #Tornado #Damage #OKWX #Oklahoma #WXTwitter pic.twitter.com/7AF7bgBcQ0
— WxChasing- Brandon Clement (@bclemms) April 28, 2024
Tornado damage destroyed downtown #Sulphur #Oklahoma #tornado pic.twitter.com/NfqcnBaGMn
— WxChasing- Brandon Clement (@bclemms) April 28, 2024
Devastating tornado damage from downtown Sulphur, OK.
Video from KTEN Weather intern Garrett Tarver. #okwx pic.twitter.com/pa1JFbz2u7
— Mandy Bailey (@MandyBaileyWX) April 29, 2024
Photographer Brandon Clement shared a drone video of a giant Dollar Tree warehouse in Marietta completely decimated as most of the roof was ripped off, exposing the foundational structure and shelves of inventory. He added that it also destroyed a hospital and flipped cars and semis on I-35.
Then, downtown Sulphur was flattened. Video shows entire blocks of buildings turned into nothing but metal framing and bricks as well as homes in residential areas ripped apart.
The latest details about the storms, according to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, is that the governor issued a state of emergency for 12 counties.
The state agencies recorded four storm-related fatalities were recorded in Holdenville, on Interstate 35 near Marietta, and in Sulpher.
They also reported approximately 100 injuries, including 25 people cut or pierced by debris, 30 falls, 16 struck by debris, 17 transportation-related, and 12 others.
And, while approximately 22,000 people were left without power across the state, the hardest hit areas include Carter, Love, Johnston, Murray and Hughes counties.
