Three storm chasers were killed while pursuing the powerful tornadoes that tore through the US state of Oklahoma last week, a statement said.
Tim Samaras, his son Paul and Carl Young died Friday in a twister in El Reno, west of Oklahoma City, said a post yesterday on the Facebook page of the TWISTEX project for which the elder Samaras was a principal investigator.
"This is a devastating loss to the meteorological, research, and storm chasing communities," said the post from the Tactical Weather Instrumented Sampling in Tornadoes Experiment.
Chris West, undersheriff in Oklahoma's Canadian County, declined to release any names but confirmed that three storm chasers were among the fatalities from a series of tornadoes that ripped through the state still reeling from a monster twister last month that claimed two dozen lives.
Friday night's storms battered the area with high winds, heavy rain and large hail, causing several more fatalities.
Debris from the vehicle the chasers were in was strewn about half 0.8 kilometers, West told AFP. Only one of the bodies was recovered from the vehicle. The two others were found about a quarter of a mile in either direction.
CNN showed footage of what it said were the remains of the vehicle, which appeared crushed almost beyond recognition.
National Geographic called Samaras one of the world's best-known storm chasers, saying the 55-year-old spent the past two decades pursuing his passion.
It said he developed his interest in twisters after watching the film "The Wizard of Oz" when he was just six years old.
His instruments are said to have offered the first-ever glimpse inside a tornado.
"They all unfortunately passed away but doing what they LOVED," National Geographic quoted a Facebook post from Samaras' brother Jim as saying.
In a post on the social media four days before he died, Tim Samaras wished fellow storm chasers well.
"Everyone enjoy the chase -- and hope that tornadoes wander over open country," he wrote.
"Most of all, I reflect and appreciate the freedom this incredible country has to offer, and the ultimate sacrifices so many have made to make it happen.
