Tornado near Lubbock kills four people, town still without power

Four people died in a tornado that touched down in Matador, near Lubbock, on Wednesday night. Ten people were reportedly injured, according to officials.

“We’ve since had one that passed away at the hospital so that brings the total to four, that have perished as a result of the storm, nine or 10 that were transported,” said Texas DPS Sgt. Johnny Bures.

For now officials say they have a senior citizens center that is set up as a cooling station, as the town is without power. A reunification center is set up at the area Methodist church.

Officials said that everyone in the town was accounted for, but they are still making sure that people who were passing through were also accounted for.

Daylight Video From Matador, Texas pic.twitter.com/JhGYATXSkz

— Lubbock Fire Rescue (@LubbockFireTX) June 22, 2023

The tornado was one of several major weather events on Wednesday in the state. Winds at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport got up to 97 miles per hour, which is said to be the highest wind gust ever recorded at the site. There were no injuries.

Matador is 80 miles northeast of Lubbock and has a population of about 570.

Wednesday’s deadly storm is the second in a week in the Texas Panhandle. Three people died and more than 100 were hurt when a tornado hit Perryton, north of Amarillo last Thursday.