Tornado tragedy in Tennessee claims lives, injures many
During the first deadly tornado of the year in the USA, which struck eastern Tennessee, two people were killed. The victims were a mother and daughter. The storm also caused significant material damage.
During the first tornado of the year in the USA, which swept through Morgan County, a small community in eastern Tennessee, two people - a mother and daughter - were killed. The storm also injured several other people and damaged several buildings, reported the local emergency management and homeland security office on Friday.
The tornado was classified as an EF2 on the Fujita scale (which classifies tornadoes based on their strength and the damage caused - ed.). This means that the wind speed reached 217 km/h, causing "severe property damage".
The research team from the National Weather Service determined that the tornado's strength was just 1 km/h below what is required for classification as an EF3, when very severe damage occurs.
Authorities deployed over 100 rescuers, including dozens from Tennessee Highway Patrol, to assist in the search for missing people and to provide support to those affected.
"That is our mission, to make sure we can help," emphasised the head of the state patrols.
