At least five people, including a four-month-old baby, have tragically lost their lives after a series of tornadoes tore through central US states, causing widespread destruction and leaving tens of thousands without power.

The storms, which struck on Friday, unleashed havoc across the region, with Oklahoma bearing the brunt of the devastation. Four of the fatalities occurred in Oklahoma, prompting a state of emergency declaration in a dozen counties.

A fifth victim succumbed to injuries sustained in Iowa, where a separate storm system wreaked havoc in the Midwest.

Preliminary investigations by the National Weather Service (NWS) revealed that some of the tornadoes on Saturday boasted wind gusts exceeding 136 miles per hour (218 kilometers per hour), demonstrating the ferocity of the storms.

The severe weather also unleashed torrential rainfall, with some areas experiencing up to seven inches (18 centimeters) within hours.

The town of Sulphur, situated in eastern Oklahoma, bore the brunt of the destruction, with flattened homes and overturned vehicles depicting the aftermath of the disaster.

Reports from the Oklahoma State Department of Health indicated approximately 100 injuries in Sulphur alone. Nearby towns such as Holdenville and Marietta also suffered extensive damage.

Despite the devastation, Oklahoma’s leaders expressed resilience and determination to rebuild. Speaker of the Oklahoma state House of Representatives, Charles McCall, affirmed, “We will rise, we’ll clean up, we’ll rebuild and we’ll move forward.”

Governor Kevin Stitt, who visited Sulphur, described the damage as the worst he had witnessed during his tenure, emphasizing the need for support and assistance.

The White House confirmed President Joe Biden’s pledge of full federal support to Governor Stitt and the affected communities. The grim aftermath of the tornadoes underscores the urgent need for recovery efforts and assistance to those impacted by the disaster.

The weekend’s tornado outbreak follows a similar onslaught in the Midwestern states of Nebraska and Iowa on Friday, where more than 70 tornadoes struck.

Nebraska’s governor issued emergency declarations for three counties, reflecting the severity of the situation and the need for additional resources for rescue and recovery operations.

As the affected regions grapple with the aftermath of the deadly storms, meteorologists have warned of continued severe weather threats.

While the risk of tornadoes may diminish, the potential for damaging winds and hail persists across northeastern Texas, northern Louisiana, Arkansas, and southern Missouri, underscoring the ongoing challenges faced by communities in the wake of natural disasters.