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Powerful storms that rolled across the South over the weekend spawned tornadoes, damaged homes and killed at least four in Texas, including two children, authorities said.
The Angelina County Sheriff’s Office said an 8-year-old and a 3-year-old died when strong winds toppled a tree onto the back of their family’s car in Lufkin while it was in motion. Capt. Alton Lenderman said the parents, who were in the front seats, were not injured.
Accuweather reported that two more people were confirmed dead in Texas on Sunday — one after a tornado ripped through Caddo Mound State Historical site and one in the Houston County town of Weches.
A tornado also swept through Alto, Texas, injuring more than a dozen people and damaging several structures, according to Accuweather.
Lufkin is about 115 miles (185 kilometers) northeast of Houston. Additional information was not immediately available.
In Central Texas, Robertson County Sheriff Gerald Yezak told The Associated Press a tornado hit the small city of Franklin, overturning mobile homes and damaging other residences. Franklin is located about 125 miles (200 kilometers) south of Dallas.
The National Weather Service said preliminary information showed an EF-3 tornado touched down with winds of 140 mph (225.3 kph). Crews will continue to survey the damage over the next few days.
Two people were hospitalized for injuries not thought to be life-threatening, while others were treated at the scene for minor injuries, Yezak said. Some people had to be extricated from their homes.
Weather service meteorologist Monique Sellers said they’ve received reports of downed trees, as well as damage to buildings and a transmission tower.
The storms are part of a large system moving through the southern United States, knocking out power to thousands and causing some flash flooding. The weather service said the system is expected to shift to the Ohio Valley and the Southeast on Sunday. More than 140,000 customers remained without power in Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas late Saturday.