Tragedy struck the small city of Westmoreland in northeastern Kansas on Tuesday as a destructive tornado tore through the area, resulting in one fatality. The tornado, which hit Westmoreland on Tuesday evening, caused significant damage to multiple structures in the city.
Authorities in Pottawatomie County took to Facebook to inform the public about the devastating impact of the tornado. First responders immediately sprang into action, conducting grid searches in Westmoreland to assess the damage and search for any individuals who may have been injured during the natural disaster.
A spokesperson for Pottawatomie County officially confirmed the unfortunate loss of life in a news release that was shared with the media. The identity of the deceased individual is being withheld at this time, pending notification of their family.
Located approximately 45 miles northwest of Topeka, Westmoreland found itself in the path of destruction as images circulated on social media depicted the tornado on the ground, damaged homes, uprooted trees, and even a flipped semi-truck.
This recent tornado in Westmoreland comes on the heels of a series of severe weather events in the region. Just two days prior, tornadoes wreaked havoc in Oklahoma, claiming the lives of four individuals and leaving over 100 others injured. Prior to that, Nebraska and Iowa were hit by tornadoes on Friday, resulting in the destruction of homes and businesses and tragically leading to one fatality.