Seven people, including two children, were killed in a series of tornadoes that hit several counties near Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday, officials said.
Diogenes Ayala, Madison County's director of emergency management, said six Madison County residents were killed. Ayala told a news conference in Winterset on Sunday afternoon that the oldest victim was 72 years old and the youngest was 2 years old. He had earlier said that there were two victims below the age of 5.
One person also died in a rural area near the Lucas County town of Chariton, an official said.
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Des Moines said preliminary estimates for the Madison County tornado showed it was an EF3, with wind speeds of at least 136 mph. It expects to complete a damage survey for the Winterset tornado on Monday.
The NWS said on Sunday that the Winterset tornado was one of at least two EF3 tornadoes to hit Iowa on Saturday. Damage surveys from NWS offices in Des Moines and the Quad Cities suggested that another EF3 with estimated winds of 138 mph was responsible for the damage near Chariton, it said.
That tornado was on land for 16 and a half miles.
In addition, an EF2 tornado with estimated winds of 122 mph occurred near Lyon, which made landfall for 19 miles.
According to the NWS, an EF1 tornado with winds of 110 mph, with gusts of 100 mph winds in West Lake Park and an EF-0 tornado with winds of 65 mph hit West Lake Park also affected.
Ayala said the Winterset tornado damaged or destroyed about 52 homes in Madison County over a period of 13.7 miles and that wind speeds reached 155 mph at one point.
Officials said six people were still being treated in the county for injuries sustained in the tornado. Ayala had earlier said that one adult had suffered life-threatening injuries and three others were hospitalized in critical condition.
"I think, this is the worst that anyone has seen in a long time," Ayala said on Sunday morning.
Ayala said the tornadoes that hit several counties near Des Moines also left one adult with life-threatening injuries and three others hospitalized in critical condition.
Mike Lamb, emergency management coordinator for Lucas, Appanos, Davis and Monroe counties, said one person died and several people were injured near Chariton.
Lamb said in a news release Sunday morning that the tornado damaged several homes, buildings, power lines and vegetation.
Two people were injured in Polk County, the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post.
In Des Moines the NWS previously warned that a "large and extremely dangerous storm" was moving toward Pleasant Hill, a city about five miles east of Des Moines, and that people should seek shelter immediately.
The severe weather "damaged several homes, power lines and trees," the sheriff's office said. First responders were in the area assessing the damage and helping residents.
The sheriff's office warned in the post: "Collapsed power lines, standing water and roadblocks are creating dangerous travel conditions in this area and we want to stay away from the area and allow these agencies to operate unhindered." They are asking for the help of the public by allowing them to do so."
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster declaration for Madison County, saying she and her husband are praying for the lives and those injured in the tornado.
According to the news release, the announcement allows for the use of state resources for response and recovery efforts in Madison County. Other counties can be added to the proclamation.
"Today, as you pray for the situation in Ukraine, please also pray for the victims of yesterday's deadly tornado in Iowa—for those who tragically lost their lives, those who were injured, and Serious damage to properties," Governor Reynolds tweeted on Sunday morning.
Reynolds, who spent the morning visiting affected communities, told reporters on Sunday afternoon that he had seen hundreds of volunteers helping their neighbors.
She said she had spoken earlier on Sunday with the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Alejandro Meyercas, who offered federal aid as needed.
Severe storms were predicted for Iowa, including Des Moines, on Saturday afternoon and evening.
According to the Storm Prediction Center, a tornado watch is now in effect for western and northern Arkansas, southeast Oklahoma and southern Missouri as of 8 p.m.
CNN meteorologist Gene Norman said the center says there are chances of tornadoes, some of them intense, as well as storms with hail larger than golf balls and gusts of up to 70 mph. Thunderstorms are set to develop on Sunday afternoon and evening.
Typically in March, severe weather focuses on the Gulf Coast states from Texas to Florida. For example, Texas gets an average of 11 tornadoes in March, while Iowa usually only gets two.