Severe storms and two confirmed tornadoes slammed southwest Florida overnight, leaving at least two people dead and a swath of damaged homes.
The National Weather Service said there were at least four reports of tornadoes overnight in Florida, but only two had been confirmed.
The Manatee County Sheriff's Office said the tornado hit a mobile home in Duette, killing two adults, injuring another and sending four juveniles to the hospital. The couple killed was identified as Steven and Kate Wilson, while four children and their adult son were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries, according to the sheriff’s office.
"I'm amazed to see anybody got out of this alive," Manatee County Sheriff Brad Steube said during a news conference, according to The Associated Press.
The deadly tornado hit the area, about 50 miles southeast of Tampa, with winds between 111 mph and 135 mph, according the NWS.
The second twister touched down seconds later near the beach community of Siesta Key in Sarasota County.
About 17,000 residents were left without power Sunday morning, and about 20 properties were damaged, the Sarasota County Emergency Management office said on its Facebook page. The estimated cost of the tornado was $12 million because a condominium building was damaged, the post said.
