Tornado destroys Monette Manor Nursing Home and traps residents inside

A tornado killed two residents of an Arkansas nursing home Friday night after destroying the building and trapping dozens of others inside.

Monette Manor in North Arkansas was directly impacted and collapsed with residents still under its roof as severe tornadoes swept through several southern states Friday night.

The Obion County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to The Daily Beast, a fire station in Samburg, Tennessee, was also directly affected by a tornado late Friday, leaving many people trapped inside. Authorities have yet to determine if anyone was killed or injured.

Marvin Day, Judge for Craighead County, Arkansas, declared a state of emergency and said about 20 people were believed to be trapped in the nursing home’s rubble, while at least five others were injured.

The storms razed many businesses in the town, including Dollar General. The National Weather Service warned that at least 25 million people are threatened by a massive thunderstorm system that tore through the region.

The NWS issued an alert for the Monette area earlier in the day, urging residents to shelter in place. Day said first responders were on the scene at Monette Manor and cared for “serious injuries.”

Local authorities have also appealed to any paramedics near the area to help the injured.

This is a story that develops…