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Today marks the 89th anniversary of what has been called the nation’s most destructive tornado.

About 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, 1925, a tornado touched down over southeast Missouri and moved northeast toward Southern Illinois. It grew to monstrous proportions, In less than four hours, the tornado crossed three states, leaving scores of deaths and dozens of destroyed communities.

The weather forecast called for showers and moderate temperatures across Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. It was before the time of severe weather watches and warnings, so no one knew what was coming.

Murphysboro sustained the worst damage. There, the tornado killed 234 people, injured 800 and 1,200 homes were destroyed. About 8,000 people were left homeless.

In De Soto, the twister leveled a school, killing more than 30 students and teachers. The death toll for De Soto was 125.

In West Frankfort, 189 deaths were reported; in Gorham there were 37 deaths and about 200 injured.

Across three states -- Missouri, Illinois and Indiana -- the storm left 695 people dead, a record total for a single tornado. There were more than 2,000 injuries and 15,000 homes destroyed, according the to the National Weather Service.