Two dead as storms tear through central US states

Tornadoes and storms ripping through several central states in the US have killed two people and injured dozens, officials say.

Meanwhile, a tropical storm has affected the Carolinas in the south east, and wintry weather hit parts of Colorado in the Mountain West.

Two people died from storms in south-western Arkansas. Howard County Sheriff Brian McJunkins said the victims lived in adjoining mobile homes and that two other people were critically injured. In the small town of Van in north-east Texas, about two dozen people were injured and some homes were destroyed after a severe storm struck, an emergency management official said .

The storm that the National Weather Service said likely produced a tornado hit the east side of Van Zandt County and the city of Van on Sunday evening.

Chuck Allen, the Van Zandt County fire marshal and emergency management co-ordinator, said about 26 patients were transported to hospitals after a triage area was established at a church.

The extent of their injuries was not immediately clear. About 30% of the city suffered some kind of damage, he said.

“Damages range from completely destroyed homes, damaged homes, to trees and power lines down,” Mr Allen added.

The storm was part of severe weather that stretched across north Texas on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, another likely tornado ripped roofs off buildings and damaged trees near Denton, about 60 km north-west of Dallas, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Tom Bradshaw.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or fatalities.