Tornado barrels through parts of Kansas, causes severe damage

WICHITA, Kan. — Several people were injured and multiple buildings were damaged after a tornado ripped through parts of Kansas on Friday, officials said.

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At an early Saturday morning news conference, Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell said 966 buildings were in the path of the twister, which began in Sedgwick County and moved into Butler County, KWCH-TV reported.

Update 10:55 a.m. EDT April 30: Officials in Andover later Saturday said that there were no fatalities and four people were injured, KWCH-TV reported. All missing people have been accounted for, officials said.

“We have no reports of anyone missing,” Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell said. “We are still really concerned about those areas in the fire district that we have not … searched yet. That’s our primary objective, and that’s where the crews are right now.”

Original report: Andover Fire Chief Chad Russelladded that 50 to 100 buildings were damaged in Sedgwick County, according to the television station. The tornado moved through parts of southeast Wichita and Andover on Friday night, The Associated Press reported.

“We have no reports of anyone missing,” Russell said. “We are still really concerned about those areas in the fire district that we have not … searched yet. That’s our primary objective, and that’s where the crews are right now.”

Russell said during the news conference that in some neighborhoods, homes “were completely blown away.”

“We had many buildings in Andover take very tough damage,” Russell said.

More than 6,500 people were without power early Saturday, The Wichita Eagle reported.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly declared a state of emergency late Friday, KWCH reported.

“We have learned from past experience that we can’t wait for the storm to hit before we respond,” Kelly said. “By taking these steps early we are able to more quickly react when the counties ask for assistance.”

Three people in southeast Sedgwick County were injured and one was in serious condition after the tornado moved through the area, according to the Eagle. Five people, including two firefighters, were treated in Butler County by emergency medical personnel for cuts, scratches and falls, the newspaper reported.

“Please do not come to Andover unless you have to,” Wichita interim police Chief Lem Moore said, according to KSNW-TV. “Emergency services want to focus on the families in Andover and not have to manage people wanted to drive by to see the damages.”

Officials are expected to provide an update later Saturday.

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