Officials said on Saturday morning that two people were killed and at least ten others were hospitalized as a result of a tornado that landed in Texas overnight.
Around 4 a.m. local time, the tornado made landfall in Laguna Heights, a neighborhood on the Gulf of Mexico coast 180 miles from Corpus Christi. It caused “extensive damage,” the nearby municipality of Port Isabel posted on social media. Between Port Isabel and Laguna Vista is where you’ll find Laguna Heights. According to officials, the route that connects the three settlements has damage and is temporarily closed to all traffic.
The tweet below confirms the news:
SH 100 CLOSED in both directions, between Laguna Heights and SPI, while #TxDOT crews work debris removal from the roadway. Monitor this closure on https://t.co/UKST6t83qs or call 1-800-452-9292. pic.twitter.com/66sgo1y9R1
— TxDOT Pharr District (@TxDOTPharr) May 13, 2023
“Multiple structures sustained extensive damage,” according to officials, in addition to the highway. Outages have been caused by broken power lines as well.
Officials stated that search and rescue operations are still being conducted for any additional injuries or fatalities. The Valley Regional Medical Center has established a triage area for “walking wounded.”
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The Salvation Army, the Red Cross, and regional emergency management officials have created a new shelter at the Port Isabel Event and Cultural Center.
The cleanup effort is being carried out by crews from numerous agencies, according to officials.
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