Eight people killed after dust storm causes massive pile-up involving 55 vehicles in Kansas

This was the scene of devastation after dozens of vehicles collided in the US state of Kansas.

At least eight people were killed in the major crash caused by a dust storm on Friday.

Aerial images show the scale of the devastation, with scores of lorries and cars crumpled together.

The incident, which happened on a stretch of road called Interstate 70 between Goodland and Colby in Sherman County, was described by firefighter Brian James as the ‘most emotional draining experience in my 22 years of being in the fire service’.

Interstate 70 is still closed in both directions while the recovery effort is carried out.

The fatalities are among at least 34 people known to have died in powerful storms across Texas, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Widespread alerts for flash floods, wind, and wildfires are in place for more than 100 million people – from Texas across to Indiana.

Communities are coming to terms with the devastation, with many returning to homes completely flattened by strong winds or tornadoes while 100,000 households are without power.

Couple Bob Rybak and Patty Schmitz were lucky to avoid serious injury when they were caught up in the pile-up.

They were hit by three vehicles when the dust storm hit, according to The Wichita Eagle.

Ms Schmitz, from Ohio, said: ‘The fact we’re alive and we were able to basically walk away from what should have been a fatal accident. We’re just so lucky and grateful because so many people weren’t that lucky.’

The US has been hit by wild weather since the beginning of 2025.In January, wildfires spread through Los Angeles, turning affluent neighbourhoods into smouldering rubble.

Earlier this month, firefighters were battling to contain 170 wildfires that had broken out in the Carolinas.