Powerful storms in US midwest leave three dead and 800,000 without power

Severe storms swept through the Midwest on Tuesday, causing widespread damage and leaving three people dead, as well as over 800,000 without power in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, and Kentucky. Winds reached speeds of more than 80mph (130km/h), toppling trees and power lines in their path. In Indiana, a four-year-old boy died after a tree fell onto his home in Geneva Township, while a person died in Portage, a city 30 miles southeast of Chicago, after a suspected weather-related house explosion.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency in Perry and Muskingum counties, urging residents to prepare for further dangerous storms. DeWine warned that flooding would remain a significant concern even after the storms had passed. The National Weather Service's storm prediction center recorded derechos, or straight-line winds, at speeds of 99mph in Gary, Indiana.

Nearly 800,000 electricity customers across the four affected states were still without power as of Wednesday morning. Utility provider AEP reported that more than 2,000 workers were working to restore electricity in Columbus, Ohio, where gusts exceeded 80mph and trees fell onto power lines. The storms caused difficulties for emergency crews in Portage, as downed trees and power lines blocked roads, making it challenging for crews to reach the location of a fatal house fire.

In Jennings County, Indiana, a child died when a tree fell on his bedroom about 3:30pm. In Ohio, 16 people at a prison in Grafton were taken to hospitals after lightning struck during their return from an evening meal. Two confirmed tornadoes were reported near Chicago. Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther warned that power could be out for days, urging residents to plan for a prolonged recovery period.