DOLORES, Uruguay — Residents of this small city in western Uruguay sifted through the remains of their homes and lives on Saturday, a day after a powerful tornado razed buildings, hurled cars into the air and left four people dead and dozens more injured.
Uruguay's government declared a day of national mourning on Sunday for the deaths in Dolores, a city of 20,000 people about 165 miles west of Montevideo, and President Tabare Vazquez was expected to travel to the devastated city that day as well.
The tornado took the city by surprise on Friday afternoon, and officials say a good part of the population lost their homes. Some of the dead were reportedly hit by flying cars. The city was declared an emergency zone.
Health Minister Jorge Basso said Saturday that among the 30 people seriously injured were three minors in “very grave” condition. About 200 others reported minor injuries.
An Associated Press journalist arriving in the city saw a devastating scene, with brick houses totally destroyed and sheet metal roofs lying on the streets or caught in trees. Authorities and residents had begun clearing trees, branches and rubble from roads to let vehicles pass. Many residents did not want to leave their devastated homes for fear of looters.
The Interior Ministry released a statement saying that incidents of looting had been brought under control.
“In the first hours after the climatic event, there were some acts of vandalism but these were rapidly quelled and five people were detained,” it said.
Parts of Dolores remained without electricity or telephone service on Saturday.
