Vilonia Ark. Tornado Virtually Destroys Entire Community

Vilonia, Ark., took a beating Sunday night when a deadly tornado swept through the small town, killing at least six people and virtually obliterating the entire community.

The twister, part of the pack of powerful storms that blew through Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Iowa over the weekend, hit Vilonia and Mayflower, Ark., the hardest, according to Today.com.

In all, 17 people perished in the tornadoes, The Associated Press reported.

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The storm marked the second time in three years that Vilonia has been devastated by a tornado. Three people died when one hit the town in 2011, Today.com noted.

"[The damage is] widespread," Vilonia police chief Brad McNew told Savannah Guthrie on "Today" Monday. "Houses completely down to the foundations. A lot worse than it was three years ago."

RT @THV11: PHOTO of tornado damage taken in Vilonia, Ark. by John Loukota: #ARtornado pic.twitter.com/eVrN1OsqV0”

— Jim Wilhelm (@BreakingNewzman) April 28, 2014

Mayflower, AR damage. Apparently Vilonia, AR just as bad "@ForbiddenH: River Plantation tornado. Mayflower ARK #ARWX pic.twitter.com/yOPPwQ4P0Q"

— Derek Baker (@blueznjazz) April 28, 2014

House in Vilonia, Ark., virtually destroyed by storm. http://t.co/8LfL3KE1Ll via @THV11Weather pic.twitter.com/IJswTfYm3v

— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) April 28, 2014

Tornado devastated parts of Arkansas last night. Please donate to Red Cross to help http://t.co/RyWLMF07uR pic.twitter.com/MKaFxpnLBk

— Michael S. Mills (@AquiAmigo) April 28, 2014

New pics of destruction outside a school being built in Vilonia, #Arkansas after deadly #tornado. pic.twitter.com/yhwLzALruc

— John Fenton (@JohnCBS4) April 28, 2014

Another car punched up by the tornado in Vilonia, Arkansas @OmarVillafranca pic.twitter.com/UYOHWQvKDx

— NewsBreaker (@NewsBreaker) April 28, 2014

At least 17 people have been killed in tornadoes that ripped through Arkansas, Oklahoma: http://t.co/uVXji0MlpB pic.twitter.com/u1PghvWwgr

— Reuters U.S. News (@ReutersUS) April 28, 2014

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