A tornado killed at least 23 people in Mississippi. According to the local emergency services, dozens of people were injured, it said. The authority assumes that the number of victims will continue to rise.
According to the weather service, the tornado reached top speeds of more than 110 kilometers per hour. Hailstones the size of golf balls fell. At least one tornado has swept through the state. This caused damage in the cities of Silver City and Rolling Fork, the authority wrote. According to the media, he left a trail of destruction regarding 130 kilometers long.
More warnings for the weekend
There were also reports of other tornadoes in the US media, some of which came from the neighboring state of Alabama. According to media reports, the storms in the state swept roofs off houses, uprooted trees, damaged power lines and almost leveled some parts of the city. About 100,000 customers in Mississippi and the neighboring states of Tennessee and Alabama were without power early on Saturday morning, the website poweroutage.us reported.
Numerous destroyed houses might be seen on TV pictures. There was no information regarding the age of the victims. Rescue and salvage workers are on duty, the civil protection said. The weather service in Mississippi also warned of further showers and thunderstorms for the weekend. Gusts of wind and hail the size of a golf ball must be expected. More tornadoes are also possible.
Mississippi is considered the poorest state in the USA. In Rolling Fork, with its approximately 2000 inhabitants, many people live in converted caravans. According to the New York Times, the small town with its predominantly black population is below the country’s poverty line. Local media reported that a crisis center had been set up in the town. There are beds, water, sanitary facilities and medical support.
