WSIL -- Thursday marks the 96th anniversary of the Tri-State Tornado that devastated several communities in southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, and southwest Indiana on March 18, 1925.
Longfellow School in Murphysboro
To this day, the twister still holds many records in the United States including the deadliest (695 deaths) and longest tracking (219 miles).
In total, 695 people lost their lives and more than 2000 sustained injuries, many of whom were in southern Illinois.
Logan School in Murphysboro
In Missouri, Annapolis and Biehle were two of the hardest hit towns, killing four people in each community.
When the tornado crossed the Mississippi River, it hit multiple population centers in southern Illinois like Gorham, Murphysboro, DeSoto, West Frankfort, and Parrish. The loss of life in Murphysboro alone was 234. Another 147 died in West Frankfort.
School in DeSoto
Tri-State Tornado Damage in West Frankfort
The path would continue into Indiana, destroying the towns of Griffin and Princeton before finally ending three and a half hours later.
Many survivors of the infamous storm were left homeless. In Murphysboro, a large fire ravaged part of the town the night after the tornado.
Meteorology in 1925 was in its infancy, so there was no warning of a tornado until it hit. Meteorologist have conducted numerous studies to determine what made the Tri-State Tornado so unique, but no single factor can be attributed.
News 3 WSIL recently ran an exclusive special,
