Tornadoes Injure 16 In New Mexico

Storms that produced at least 13 tornadoes swept along New Mexico's border with Texas in the southwestern U.S., destroying homes and other buildings and injuring at least 16 people, several critically, authorities said.

The worst damage was reported in the towns of Logan and Clovis, communities about 80 miles apart, police said.

The tornadoes, which were reported during a five-hour period Friday, damaged several buildings, downed power lines and sparked fires that were later extinguished in Clovis, town police Lt. James Schoeffel said.

Thirteen people from that area were hospitalized at the Plains Regional Medical Center with injuries. Five were in critical condition with head trauma, said Liz Crouch, the center's chief operating officer.

In Logan, three people were taken to a hospital, while others were treated at a local clinic, State Police Sgt. Andrew Tingwall said.

A tornado destroyed roughly two dozen mobile homes and campers in Logan, state police said.

Hours later, another tornado rumbled through Clovis.

"They have been coming one after another, after another, after another," said Tim Shy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Albuquerque.

Tornadoes are common in eastern New Mexico along the Texas border, but Shy said they might have hit a little early this year. He said he did not know the strength of the tornadoes.

The storms were expected to continue into Saturday, moving northward up the Texas-New Mexico border before moving eastward into Texas, Shy said.