The death toll from the devastating tornado in the southern United States has risen to at least 26. According to civil protection, 25 people were killed and dozens were injured in the poorest US state, Mississippi alone, and according to reports from the media, at least one person died in neighboring Alabama. FEMA Chief Deanne Criswell and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas planned to visit the affected region today.
At least one tornado swept through Mississippi on Friday night (local time) and multiple thunderstorms raged in the region. The tornado caused devastation in Silver City and Rolling Fork in particular. Roofs were torn off houses, trees uprooted and power lines damaged.
Some parts of the city were almost razed to the ground. “We will do everything we can to help,” promised US President Joe Biden in response to the “heartbreaking” images from Mississippi.
strip of desolation
The tornado hit Rolling Fork around 8 pm on Friday, Lance Perrilloux of the National Weather Service told NPR radio. He then left a trail of destruction over a distance of over 270 kilometers in a good hour.
“This is one of the rarest tornadoes we’ve seen in Mississippi history based on longevity and strength over a period of time,” Perrilloux said. At least one other, weaker tornado may have hit the state, but this is yet to be confirmed.
For today, the meteorological service warned of severe hail storms that could reach the size of chicken eggs. Other tornadoes and wind gusts with speeds greater than 110 km/h are also possible. Meteorologists assume that the storms will only weaken in the evening and will likely be followed by isolated showers.