IP - Strong, damaging storms raked large portions of the central US Friday, with more than 50 preliminary tornado reports made in six states Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

Iran PressAmerica: At least five people have died in the storms, with three in Arkansas and two in Indiana.

In Arkansas, at least 50 are hospitalized after a tornado hit the Little Rock area, and people were trapped in homes in Wynne, officials say.

Dozens of homes were damaged in Sherman, Illinois, a sheriff says.

More than 450,000 energy customers across 10 states are without power early Saturday morning after severe weather tore through vast portions of the central US Friday and continued overnight. 

Several residences and the local volunteer fire department building were also damaged. Emergency crews continue to provide help in the area.

The number of preliminary tornado reports during Friday's storms has ticked up to at least 53, according to the Storm Prediction Center.

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