A tornado killed at least 23 people in Mississippi. According to local emergency services, dozens of people were injured. The authority assumes that the number of victims will continue to rise.
According to the meteorological service, the tornado reached maximum speeds of more than 110 kilometers per hour. Hail the size of golf balls fell. At least one tornado has swept through the state. This caused damage in Silver City and Rolling Fork, the official wrote. According to the media, it left a trail of destruction of about 130 kilometers.
More announcements for the weekend
There were also reports of other tornadoes in the American media, some of which came from the neighboring state of Alabama. According to media reports, storms in the state ripped roofs off homes, uprooted trees, damaged power lines and nearly leveled parts of the city. About 100,000 customers in Mississippi and neighboring states of Tennessee and Alabama were without power on Saturday morning, the website poweroutage.us reported.
Numerous destroyed houses can be seen in TV footage. There is no information about the age of the victims. Rescuers and paramedics are on duty, civil protection said. The Mississippi Weather Service also warned of more rain and thunderstorms over the weekend. Wind gusts and golf ball-sized hail are to be expected. More tornadoes are also possible.
Mississippi is considered the poorest state in the US. In Rolling Fork, home to around 2,000 people, many people live in converted caravans. According to the New York Times, the small town with a predominantly black population is below the country’s poverty line. Local media reported that a crisis center had been set up in the city. There are beds, water, toilets and medical support.