The worst tornado outbreak of the year struck several small towns across Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri on Sunday. The storms killed at least 17 people, damaged or destroyed scores of homes and businesses, and sparked a search effort in Arkansas that continued into the night.

Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe’s office confirms at least 16 deaths in his state. The towns of Mayflower and Livonia, northwest of Little Rock, were nearly levelled by a twister that demolished homes and tossed cars like toys.

The Arkansas epartment of Emergency Management says one trail of storm destruction stretches 30 miles. A search for victims in Mayflower continued through the night and into Monday morning.

One death was reported in the northeastern Oklahoma town of Quapaw, about 20 miles southwest of Joplin, Missouri. In nearby Baxter Springs, Kansas, at least 25 people were hurt and dozens of homes and businesses were destroyed. Southeast Kansas Incident Management Team spokeswoman Kari West said late Sunday night that one person died yesterday afternoon, but it was not clear whether the death was related to the storm.

In Odessa, Missouri there were multiple traffic accidents, uprooted trees and houses with roof damage from straight-line winds. Along I-70 east of Kansas City a semi was blown over.

A tractor trailer drove off of Interstate 435 near Shoal Creek Parkway and into a creek. It wasn’t clear Sunday whether the severe weather was to blame.

One inch hail was reported south of Pattonsburg, Missouri, and at least one trees were blown down in Warrensburg.