New Delhi, March 15 -- A series of powerful tornadoes tore through the US Midwest and Southeast overnight, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming at least three lives in Missouri. Officials are still assessing the extent of the damage, with severe weather conditions expected to persist.

At least 26 tornadoes were reported late Friday night and early Saturday, although not all have been confirmed to have touched down. The storms, driven by a low-pressure system, impacted areas across Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi, and Missouri.

Two of the reported fatalities occurred in Ozark County's Bakersfield area in southern Missouri, while a third death was reported in Butler County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Several in...