At least 23 people have died after a powerful tornado and violent storms ripped through the southern US state of Mississippi, tearing off roofs and flattening neighborhoods, multiple news outlets reported.
State officials also said Saturday that at least four people were missing and dozens were injured, while tens of thousands of people in Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee were without power, according to CNN.
In the hard-hit town of Rolling Fork, all that was left of an entire row of houses and buildings was scattered debris. Local television footage shared online shows cars overturned and smashed, fences were ripped up and trees uprooted.
“At least 23 Mississippians were killed by last night’s violent tornados. We know that many more are injured. Search and rescue teams are still active,” Governor Tate Reeves said on Twitter.
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“The loss will be felt in these towns forever. Please pray for God’s hand to be over all who lost family and friends,” he added.
A local tornado watch expired in the early hours of Saturday, but more thunderstorms were expected.
The main threats Saturday will be damaging winds and isolated tornadoes as the larger storm system heads east, with it expected to push off the East Coast by this evening, meteorologists said.
The areas impacted will include Montgomery in Alabama, Jackson in Mississippi, and Columbus and Macon in Georgia.
Flooding could also pose a threat across portions of the South, as an additional 2 to 4 inches of rain is possible through Sunday.
