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NEED TO KNOW
- At least three people are dead in Enderlin, N.D., after a tornado tore through the small city on Friday, June 20
- The victims include two men and one woman, whom first responders were “familiar” with, according to local authorities
- Severe weather hit other areas in North Dakota and Minnesota
At least three people are dead after severe thunderstorms and tornadoes tore through parts of North Dakota.
Police were dispatched to a residence in Enderlin, a small city on the eastern side of the state, at approximately 11:40 p.m. on Friday, June 20, per a statement released by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.
Once police arrived, they were informed by the Enderlin Fire Department that storm chasers had located “two deceased people” on the scene. Fire officials were soon dispatched to an additional location, where a third body was found, per the statement.
Deputies found “extensive damage to the area” and conducted welfare checks on local residents, per authorities.
In a press conference on Saturday, June 21, Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner said that two of the victims were men and one was a woman, adding that all were adults. He also said that local fire officials responded to the scenes while the storm was “still active,” and stated that the responders were “familiar” with the victims.
Chief of the Enderlin Sheldon Fire Department, Jon Anderson, added that about 10 homes in the area were destroyed.
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Storms also ripped through parts of Minnesota, per a press release from the Beltrami County Emergency Management Office shared to Facebook. The office stated that there was “significant damage” around the city, including widespread power outages and numerous blocked roads. No deaths or injuries have been reported, per the statement.
PEOPLE reached out to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, the Enderlin Sheldon Fire Department and the Beltrami County Emergency Management Office on Saturday, June 21, but did not receive immediate responses.
In the wake of the severe weather, approximately 20,700 people in North Dakota and 21,000 people in Minnesota were left without power as of the early afternoon on June 21, according to poweroutage.us.
