One dead and dozens hurt as tornadoes strike Texas and Oklahoma
At least one person has been killed and dozens were injured after tornadoes tore through parts of Oklahoma and Texas, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
Search and rescue teams have been sent to the worst-hit areas with people trapped in ruined buildings.
Storms have also caused flash flooding in some parts.
Residents face a major clean-up. Pic: AP
Two towns to bear the brunt of the tornadoes were Powderly in Texas and Idabel in Oklahoma which both lie close to the border between the two states.
Idabel is located in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, in the southeastern corner of the state, where the authorities confirmed one fatality.
The town saw a church, medical centre and school torn apart.
‘Total destruction’
Steven Carter, an emergency management coordinator for McCurtain County, said: “There was total destruction on the south and east sides of Idabel.”
Emergency workers equipped with generators have been sent to the area to search for missing residents.
Governor Kevin Stitt tweeted: “Praying for Oklahomans impacted by today’s tornadoes.”
Keli Cain, of the state’s emergency management office, said at least three other counties were also hit by storms, causing flooding.
The National Weather Service said tornadoes were also reported in Texas and Arkansas and a storm system was heading towards Louisiana.
In Texas, authorities in Lamar County said at least 50 homes were wrecked and 10 people were treated at one hospital, including two with critical injuries.
No deaths have currently been reported.
Roofs were torn off buildings. Pic: AP
‘Heartbreaking to see’
County official Judge Brandon Bell declared a disaster in the area, paving the way for federal assistance and funding.
He said at least two dozen people were injured across the county.
After touching down, a tornado travelled north through the communities of Hopewell, Caviness, Beaver Creek and Powderly, the county sheriff’s office said.
Randi Johnson, chief of the Powderly volunteer fire department, said: “It’s going to take a long time to get this cleaned up, but the community came together.
“It’s really heartbreaking to see.”
The scenes of destruction have been described as ‘heartbreaking’. Pic: AP
The town is about 45 miles west of Idabel and some 119 miles northeast of Dallas.
Meanwhile, at least five tornadoes have been confirmed along the Mississippi and Alabama coastline.
Children are among the fatalities in a mass shooting at a child’s birthday party in California.
Police said four people had died and 10 were wounded in the incident in Stockton, about 60 miles east of San Francisco.
Officers were called on Saturday to a banquet hall just before 6pm local time (2am UK time) and district attorney Ron Freitas said children were among the dead.
He said the attacker was still at large.
First responders walk through a parking lot near the scene of a mass shooting in Stockton, California. Pics: AP
“We can confirm at this time that approximately 14 individuals were struck by gunfire, and four victims have been confirmed deceased,” San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said on X.
The post said early indications suggest it could be a “targeted incident” but that information remains limited.
Police have so far not disclosed the attacker’s identity and the motive is unclear.
Stockton’s vice mayor Jason Lee confirmed on Facebook that the shooting on Lucile Avenue happened at a child’s birthday party.
Pics: AP
Mayor Christina Fugazzi also said that “families should be together instead of at the hospital, standing next to their loved one, praying that they survive”.
California governor Gavin Newsom’s office added that he had been briefed on the “horrific shooting”.
Venezuela has accused Donald Trump of a “colonial threat” after he said the airspace “above and surrounding” the country should be considered closed “in its entirety”.
Mr Trump made the declaration amid growing tensions with President Maduro – and as the US continues attacking boats it claims are carrying drugs from Venezuela.
He wrote on Truth Social: “To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.”
Air traffic above Venezuela on Saturday afternoon. Pic: FlightRadar24
Venezuela’s foreign affairs office called it a “colonial threat” and “illegal, and unjustified aggression”.
It accused the president of threatening “the sovereignty of the national airspace… and the full sovereignty of the Venezuelan state”.
President Trump’s words were part of a “permanent policy of aggression against our country” that breached international law and the UN Charter, it added.
The Pentagon and the White House have so far not given any additional detail on the president’s statement.
Mr Trump’s post comes after the American aviation regulator last week warned of a “potentially hazardous situation” over Venezuela due to a “worsening security situation”.
Nicolas Maduro is widely considered a dictator by the West. Pic: Reuters
The South American nation revoked operating rights for six major airlines that went on to suspend flights to the country.
Mr Trump warned a few days ago that land operations against suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers would begin “very soon”.
Such a move would be a major escalation in Operation Southern Spear – the US naval deployment in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific that’s so far attacked at least 21 vessels.
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Three killed as US strikes another alleged drug boat
Venezuela has said the attacks, which have killed more than 80 people, amount to murder.
The US has released videos of boats being targeted, but hasn’t provided evidence – such as photos of their cargo – to support the smuggling claims.
Read more:
Trump may have another motive in war on drugs
The US-Venezuela crisis explained
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Venezuela claims Trump creating ‘fables’ to justify ‘war’
The Pentagon has sought to justify the strikes by labelling the drug gangs as “foreign terrorist organisations” – putting them on par with the likes of al Qaeda.
It claims the boats targeted are carrying drugs bound for the US, although Sky’s chief correspondent says the final destination is likely to be Europe and West Africa.
President Maduro has denied Mr Trump’s claims he is involved in the drugs trade himself and said his counterpart wants to oust him so he can install a more sympathetic government.
Venezuelan officials have also claimed Mr Trump’s true motivation is access to the country’s plentiful oil reserves.
Mr Maduro is widely considered a dictator who’s cheated elections and has been president since 2013.
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