Suspected tornado causes severe damage as it tears through Kansas

A suspected tornado that tore through parts of Kansas damaged several buildings, injured several people and left more than 6,500 people without power.

Officials said the suspected tornado moved into parts of southeast Wichita and Andover on Friday night.

Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell told a press conference on Saturday that 50 to 100 buildings were damaged in Sedgwick County, although it was not immediately clear how many buildings were damaged in Andover.

Mr Russell said that in some neighborhoods homes “have been completely swept away”.

Firefighters search a home in Andover, Kansas after the tornado swept through the area (Travis Heying/The Wichita Eagle/AP)

Officials said only a few injuries were reported.

In Sedgwick County, three people were injured, including a seriously injured woman.

Mr Russell said no injuries were reported in Butler County but a secondary assessment would be carried out later.

He said while it was not immediately known how many buildings were damaged, more than 900 structures were in the path of the suspected tornado.

He said some neighborhoods were “damaged enough for houses to be completely destroyed” and cited areas that had suffered “very severe damage”.

City Hall was also damaged, hampering “some of our efforts”, Mr Russell said.

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