The US city of Philadelphia declared a state of emergency after violent thunderstorms swept through the city and surrounding areas, causing widespread damage, power outages, and evacuations of residents from their homes.

On Saturday, thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds reaching speeds between 97 and 113 kilometers per hour hit the region, uprooting trees, downing power lines, flooding streets, and damaging several buildings.

The US National Weather Service confirmed that the damage was caused by severe straight-line winds, not a tornado as initially rumored.

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Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said she inspected the affected areas, stressing that all city agencies are working to restore services and help residents recover.

A partial building collapse in West Philadelphia scattered debris onto the road, crushed cars, and closed tram lines, while residents of several damaged housing units were evacuated to temporary shelters and hotels.

The storms are part of a wave of extreme weather hitting the United States, also including heat waves, floods, and wildfires.