Two people died and at least 10 were hospitalized after an overnight tornado struck Texas, officials said Saturday morning.
The tornado touched down in Laguna Heights, a Gulf Coast community about 180 miles from the city of Corpus Christi, around 4 a.m. local time. It caused “extensive damage,” the neighboring city of Port Isabel wrote on social media. Laguna Heights is located between Port Isabel and Laguna Vista. According to officials, the highway connecting the three communities has been damaged and is currently blocked for all traffic.
SH 100 is closed in both directions, between Laguna Heights and SPI, while #TxDOT crews work to remove debris from the roadway. Monitor this closure at https://t.co/UKST6t83qs or call 1-800-452-9292. pic.twitter.com/66sgo1y9R1
— TxDOT Pharr District (@TxDOTPharr) May 13, 2023
In addition to the highway, “multiple structures were extensively damaged,” officials said. Power lines were also damaged, resulting in outages.
Search and rescue efforts are continuing for other injuries or fatalities, officials said. Valley Regional Medical Center has set up a triage center for “walking wounded.”
Another shelter was opened at the Port Isabel Events and Cultural Center, overseen by the Salvation Army, Red Cross and local emergency management officials.
Crews from multiple agencies are involved in the cleanup effort, officials said.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
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Kerry Breen
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