Tornadoes Ravage Central United States

Dozens of tornadoes struck the central United States, razing homes, knocking down power lines and injuring at least three people, authorities said.

More than 70 tornadoes were recorded across the country by the National Weather Service (NWS), most of them around Omaha, a transportation hub in Nebraska.

Images from storm chasers posted on social networks showed immense black twisters sweeping across the sky, turning over earth, dust and materials in their path.

In the Omaha suburb of Elkhorn, the storms razed numerous homes, blew off roofs and stripped trees of leaves.

"Emergency personnel continue to check damaged houses and assist any injured citizens," Omaha police said.

Further south, near the Nebraska state capital of Lincoln, a tornado struck an industrial shed.

The 70 or so people inside when the roof collapsed were evacuated, but three suffered non-life-threatening injuries, Lancaster County authorities said at a news conference.

To the northeast of Lincoln, near Waverly, powerful storm winds toppled a train from its tracks, the officials said.

About 11,000 households were without power in Nebraska.

The NWS, which issued numerous urgent tornado warnings in several central US states, warned that powerful storms would continue in the central plains, extending as far south as Texas.

Tornadoes, weather phenomena that are as impressive as they are difficult to predict, are relatively common in the United States, especially in the central and southern parts of the country.

A tornado that struck Ardmore, Oklahoma tossed debris up to 6,100 meters high. Then two other tornadoes came close to the town in the ensuing two hours.

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt declared a 30-day state of emergency to expedite aid to 12 of the hardest-hit counties.

More than 50,000 homes in Texas and more than 30,000 in Oklahoma were without power.