Texas Tornadoes: Dozens Hurt, 2 Kids Killed Amid Powerful Storms

FRANKLIN, TX — Multiple tornadoes hit Texas Saturday afternoon as a wave of extreme weather moved through the southern United States.

Accuweather reported two children were killed after a tree fell on a vehicle in which they were traveling during a severe storm, according to the Angelina County Sheriff's Office. According to Angelina County Sheriff’s Captain Alton Lendermen, the 3-year old and 8-year old children were in a car with their parents on DeWitt Hinson Road in Pollok, Texas.

On Saturday evening, 25 people were reportedly injured at Caddo Mounds State Historic Site, CBS 19 reported. Concert-goers at the site in in Alto, Texas, were attending the Caddo Culture Day, an annual Native American heritage festival at Caddo Mounds, when two separate storms hit at around 11:45 a.m. and again at 1:20 p.m., according to the news report.

The historic site is closed until further notice after being impacted by severe weather.

Located in Cherokee County with a population of just over 1,200 residents, Alto is the closest municipality to the Caddo Mounds State Historic Site, an archaeological site dating back to 800 CE that features a prehistoric village and ceremonial center.

A KLTV crew surveyed the damage, videotaping the destruction left in the wake of the powerful storms there:

Reports of tornadoes also emerged from Robertson County, Houston County and another in Leon County and Cherokee County. Significant damage in Franklin, Texas, was reported along with more than a dozen injuries but no fatalities.

According to the NWS office in Dallas, the total number of tornadoes and their intensity remains unknown. Weather officials will be conducting storm surveys to determine the impact.

Structural damage was reported in Franklin and there are reports of trees down on U.S. 79 from Franklin to Marquez, the NWS says. The agency also said there are reports of damage in Marquez, Jewett and Buffalo.

Robertson County Sheriff Gerald Yezak told Patch the south side of Franklin "looks like a war zone." A number of injuries were reported but Yezak said there were no fatalities.

At around 11:15 a.m., the NWS posted a message saying an ongoing tornado in western Robertson County was moving northeast and may reach the town of Franklin in 10-15 minutes.

Around 2:20 p.m., the NWS said the severe weather was shifting east but there remained a chance of scattered showers and isolated lightning strikes.

Patch editor Tony Cantú contributed to this report.