GREENFIELD, Iowa (NEWSnet/AP) — Five people died and at least 35 were hurt as tornadoes tore through Iowa Tuesday, officials said.

The tornado carved a path of destruction through the town of about 2,000 in Greenfield, which is about 55 miles southwest of Des Moines

The Iowa Department of Public Safety said Wednesday that four people had been killed in the Greenfield area. Officials did not release the names of those killed in the storm because they were still notifying relatives.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said FEMA’s administrator would be in Iowa Thursday and that the White House was in touch with state and local officials. She said they were “praying for those who tragically lost their lives” and wished those injured a “speedy recovery.”

 

The numbers released Wednesday bring the total number of deaths to five after authorities announced previously that a woman in a vehicle had been killed by a twister about 25 miles from Greenfield.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety said Wednesday it’s believed that the number of people injured is likely higher.

The twister also ripped apart and crumpled massive power-producing wind turbines several miles outside the town.

The National Weather Service said initial surveys indicated at least an EF-3 tornado in Greenfield, but additional damage assessment could lead to a more powerful ranking.

The deadly twister was spawned during a historically bad season for tornadoes in the U.S. April had the second-highest number of tornadoes on record in the country.

Through Tuesday, there have been 859 confirmed tornadoes this year, 27% more than the U.S. sees on average, according to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. Iowa’s had the most so far with 81 confirmed twisters.

The severe weather turned south on Wednesday, and the National Weather Service was issuing tornado and flash flood warnings in Texas as parts of the state — including Dallas — were under a tornado watch.

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