At least 2 dead in Ohio, severe damage in Indiana as suspected tornadoes hit Midwest

Two individuals have lost their lives in a potential tornado that struck a mobile home park in Ohio. Additionally, significant injuries and collapsed structures were reported in an Indiana town as severe weather affected multiple states on Thursday, according to officials.

Sheriff Randall Dodds of Logan County, Ohio, confirmed two fatalities at the Geiger Mobile Home Park in Lakeview, located north of Dayton, following reports of a tornado in the area.

Dodds, speaking on NBC’s “TODAY” show on Friday, mentioned the possibility of more injuries or casualties emerging as the day progresses. He described the situation as extremely devastating and expressed anticipation for potentially discovering survivors as daylight arrives.

In Winchester, Indiana, residences suffered damage and some structures were flattened in the town of approximately 4,800 residents near the Ohio border after a suspected tornado hit just before 8 p.m., officials stated.

Contrary to earlier reports from Indiana State Police indicating three deaths, Superintendent Doug Carter clarified that there were no confirmed fatalities in Winchester, but acknowledged numerous severe injuries resulting from the “terrible event.”

Survey teams would later determine if a tornado was responsible for the damage in Winchester, as reported by the National Weather Service. The agency also noted significant damage in Selma, a community situated west of Winchester, where nearly half the buildings may have been impacted.

Emergency management officials in Delaware County, where Selma is located, reported only one minor injury despite the extensive damage. Ascension St. Vincent Hospital in Winchester disclosed that it had received 39 storm-related patients by midnight.

The storms occurred on a day when tornado watches covered a broad swath of the U.S., affecting millions of people across several states. Multiple reports of tornadoes were received in Ohio, Indiana, and Texas, although these were yet to be confirmed.

Emergency officials in Huron County, Ohio, detailed a tornado that crossed a highway, causing minimal damage and no injuries. Arkansas State Police responded to downed power lines and roof damage in Hot Springs Village, a community west of Little Rock.