ST. LOUIS (AP) - Powerful storms left nearly half a million homes and businesses without power early Thursday with the region expecting another day of 100-degree heat. The summer storm that tore through the Midwest on Wednesday ripped roofs off buildings, toppled trees and injured more than 30 people. The city's light rail system was down, and a building partially collapsed, injuring at least two people.
At least 486,000 customers lost power, according to utility company AmerenUE.
Winds near 80 mph blew out press box windows and ripped the tarp at the new Busch Stadium before the start of a baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals.
Five fans were taken to hospitals and at least 25 others were also injured, according to Norm Corley, a supervisor with Accu-Care, which handles medical issues at the stadium.
The wind was also knocked windows out of a rooftop restaurant, downed trees and power lines, and ripped off a section of roof off Lambert- St. Louis International Airport. MetroLink, the city's light rail system, was down said Police Chief Joe Mokwa.
"This is one of the worst storms we can all remember to hit the city of St. Louis in recent years," St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay said.
