The recent tornado outbreak that swept through the southern United States has been confirmed as the largest in the country's recorded history, according to the National Weather Service. Between 25 and 28 April, 362 tornadoes struck the region, with 312 occurring within a single 24-hour period.
The storms claimed at least 350 lives across Alabama and six other states – Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, Louisiana and Kentucky – making it the deadliest outbreak since 1936. The devastation has left communities in these states grappling with the immense task of clearing debris and rebuilding.
In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the worst-hit single location, officials estimate that clearing debris alone will cost between $70m (£42m) and $100m (£60m). The university town saw century-old trees uprooted, farm buildings flattened and power lines brought down, leaving as many as one million people without electricity in Alabama alone. By Monday, more than 400,000 residents in the state were still without power.
The most destructive tornado struck Tuscaloosa and travelled towards Birmingham, killing at least 65 people along its path. This made it the deadliest single tornado since 1955, when a twister in Kansas killed 80 people. Storm scientists recorded that this tornado reached a maximum width of 1.5 miles (2.4km) and carved a track 80 miles long through the landscape.
