A massive tornado swept through a Texas town on Wednesday night, killing four people and injuring another 10.
The supercell developed near Amarillo around 8 p.m. before hitting Matador, a small town of about 570 people, causing widespread devastation.
Social media posts from storm chasers and meteorologists showed significant damage with damaged homes, utility lines, trees and infrastructure.
Crews pulled people from the rubble and carried away some bodies. A rescue operation was underway on Thursday morning to search for potentially trapped people.
The tornado was labeled “unprecedented” by emergency services and came as the Lone Star state was experiencing a record-breaking heat wave.
A massive tornado swept through a Texas town on Wednesday night, killing four people and injuring another 10
About a dozen buildings were damaged by the storm and some businesses were completely wiped out
Crews pulled people from the rubble and carried away some bodies. A rescue operation was underway on Thursday morning to search for potentially trapped people
About 10 buildings, including the Dollar General building in the area, were completely destroyed, along with barns and farmland. During the Matador tornado, several 18-wheeled vehicles were overturned.
Pat Smith, the city’s mayor, who also provides emergency services, confirmed that people died in the storm and rescuers pulled some residents from collapsed homes.
An elderly woman is said to have died in her home.
Mayor Pro Tempore Dvonna Grundy told CNN her home was destroyed, leaving her without clothes or medicine.
All of her chickens were gone and most of her cattle and horses died as a result of the tornado.
Mayor Smith added that the city’s electricity went out and several businesses were destroyed.
“It’s really bad,” he told the New York Times Wednesday night, as emergency services shouted directions in the background.
“The city of Matador experienced an unprecedented tornado that brought damaging winds to the city,” Lubbock Fire Rescue said in a statement on Twitter.
“Agencies from across the South Plains have assisted in search and rescue efforts. These agencies include police, fire and EMS.
About 10 buildings, including the Dollar General building in the area, were completely destroyed, along with barns and farmland.
Pat Smith, the city’s mayor, confirmed that people died in the storm and rescuers pulled some residents from collapsed houses
“State resources have come to Matador to initiate post-disaster operations, including damage assessment and final recovery efforts.”
Derek Delgado, the fire department’s spokesman, said he had never seen such destruction in his career, adding that it would take a significant emotional toll on residents.
“It was truly something I’ve never seen in my career, just the number of emergency services from across the state that have come together to help this city is truly remarkable,” he said. fox again.
“When you came in from Lubbock last night and came in from the south, you really had to go all over to get to where all the command post vehicles were.
“The livelihood of these people, we had a restaurant, you know, completely torn apart. We had knocked down doors, demolished houses, you know.
“It’s really devastating, especially with a city this size.”
Matador residents needing shelter after the tornado have been told to attend Motley County High School or Patton Springs High School.
It came as a rare combination of multiple tornadoes, hurricane-force winds, and softball-sized hail that swept through northwest Texas.