• At least five fatalities reported following a tornado in St. Louis.
• More than 5,000 properties damaged, with widespread power outages.
• Emergency services conducting house-to-house searches in affected areas.
• A curfew has been imposed in damaged districts to prevent further injuries.
• St. Louis Mayor declares the situation as "truly, truly horrendous."

A devastating tornado swept through St. Louis on Friday, resulting in at least five deaths and injuries to many more, with officials still gauging the full extent of casualties. The tornado touched down around 2:30 p.m. local time, primarily affecting the area near Forest Park, and left a trail of destruction by tearing roofs off buildings, uprooting trees, and downing power lines. Mayor Cara Spencer described the situation as "truly, truly horrendous" as she confirmed the fatalities during a press conference, emphasizing the emotional toll on the community, according to CBS News, India Times, Reuters, and BBC.

Emergency responders have been deployed extensively, with around 500 personnel conducting house-to-house searches in the most affected districts. This response includes 17 search teams actively looking for trapped individuals, while authorities have imposed a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. to mitigate risks associated with dangerous debris and potential looting, noted Mayor Spencer, as reported by CBS News, India Times, and Reuters.

The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that in addition to the tornado in St. Louis, at least six others touched down across Missouri and neighboring Illinois, with severe weather conditions reported as far east as the Atlantic coast. The tornado's impacts included damage to essential infrastructure, leaving nearly 100,000 customers without power and significantly disrupting traffic, which was compounded by downed trees and traffic signals, according to CBS News, India Times, and BBC.

Officials are working diligently to assess the damage across the city, with many residents having to evacuate homes and seek shelter. The St. Louis Fire Department reported needing to rescue individuals from collapsed buildings, including *Centennial Christian Church*, where part of the structure fell during the storm, tragically resulting in fatalities, as highlighted by India Times, Reuters, and BBC.

As recovery efforts continue, local authorities have been in close contact with the National Weather Service for real-time updates and statistics on ongoing weather threats, advising residents to stay indoors and remain vigilant as additional storms are forecasted to affect the region later, mentioned by Reuters and BBC.