Thunderstorms in the United States have left 12 people dead and about three million without power.
Emergencies were declared in Washington DC, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia because of damage from the storms, which unleashed hurricane-force winds which downed trees and power lines.
The BBC reports power cuts have left many sweltering without air conditioning amid a record-breaking heatwave with temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius in Washington.
The power outages left many sweltering without air conditioning amid a record-breaking heatwave.
Records for June were broken on Friday in Washington, Atlanta and Louisville, Kentucky. The National Weather Service says temperatures reached at least 40 degrees in all three cities.
Amtrak suspended train services from Washington to Philadelphia.
The BBC reports the storms started in the Midwest and moved quickly eastward, hitting mid-Atlantic states on Friday evening. Spectacular displays of lightning were reported.
