Little Rock Tornado Kills 4, Injures Dozens in Arkansas/Illinois Storm

A monster storm system tore through the South and Midwest on Friday, spawning deadly tornadoes that caused extensive damage to homes, shopping centers, and a theater roof.

At least one person was killed and more than two dozen were hurt, some critically, in the Little Rock area in Arkansas.

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The town of Wynne in northeastern Arkansas was also devastated, with officials reporting two dead and destroyed homes.

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A theater roof collapsed during a tornado in Belvidere, Illinois, killing one person and injuring 28, five of them severely.

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The collapse occurred at the Apollo Theatre during a heavy metal concert, with 260 people in the venue.

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First responders had to grapple with downed power lines outside the theater and described the scene as "chaos, absolute chaos."

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More confirmed twisters were reported in Iowa, and wind-whipped grass fires blazed in Oklahoma, as the storm system threatened a broad swath of the country home to some 85 million people.

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The Little Rock tornado tore through neighborhoods in the western part of the city, crossed the Arkansas River into North Little Rock and surrounding cities, and caused widespread damage to homes, businesses, and vehicles.

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Officials in Pulaski County announced a confirmed fatality in North Little Rock, and Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock reported 21 people with tornado-caused injuries, including five in critical condition.

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Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders activated 100 members of the Arkansas National Guard to help local authorities respond to the damage throughout the state.

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