At least 23 killed after tornadoes ripped through Mississippi

Multiple tornadoes have ripped through Mississippi leaving a trail of destruction in its wake – killing at least 23 people, while 4 people remain missing.

The Governor of  Mississippi, Tate Reeves, tweeted early Saturday: ‘At least twenty three Mississippians were killed by last night’s violent tornadoes.’

‘We know that many more are injured. Search and rescue teams are still active. 

‘The loss will be felt in these towns forever. Please pray for God’s hand to be over all who lost family and friends.’

At least 11 tornadoes including at least one monster one-mile wide 135mph tornado tore through the region Friday night, obliterating neighborhoods, ripping roofs off homes and downing power lines – leaving victims trapped under rubble and thousands without power. 

Over 30 million people were under a tornado warning through the evening, and were being warned to brace for the killer storms which brought golf ball-sized hail.

Authorities warned those in its path to brace for a ‘life threatening situation’ and on Saturday morning deployed search-and-rescue teams to several county’s in the region. 

A tornado confirmed by the National Weather Service (NWS) struck the towns of Silver City and Rolling Fork, the latter of which was described as ‘obliterated’ by one resident.

‘I’ve never seen anything like this,’ Brandy Showah told CNN. ‘This was a very great small town, and now it’s gone.’

So far, recorded deaths include 13 roughly 60 miles northwest of Jackson in Sharkey County, home to Rolling Fork, according to county coroner Angelia Easton.

Three others were killed and at least two in a critical condition in Humphreys County, emergency management director Royce Steed told the outlet early Saturday morning.

In Carroll County, three people died in one home, coroner Mark Stiles said adding that it appears they were killed in a tornado. 

Meanwhile, two people were killed in Monroe County in northeastern Mississippi, coroner Alan Gurley said.

The tornado has left a trail of destruction and storm debris at least 100 miles long, and is reportedly already battering Alabama.

The storms knocked out power for more than 100,000 homes and businesses across Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee as of 5.45 am ET, with more than 70,000 outages reported in Tennessee alone, according to PowerOutage.us.

NWS issued an urgent alert after the tornado touched down, cautioning: ‘To protect your life, take cover now’.

‘You are in a life-threatening situation,’ it warned. ‘Flying debris may be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes, businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction is possible.’

Search and rescue teams have been deployed to Sharkey and Humphreys counties in Mississippi, while first responders were forced to disperse injured victims to surrounding hospitals after the Sharkey-Issaquena Community Hospital saw significant damage. 

Mississippi resident Corney Knight said that he, his wife and their three-year-old daughter were at a relative’s home when the tornado hit, which he described as ‘eerily quiet’ just moments before. 

He added the sky was dark but ‘you could see the direction from every transformer that blew’. 

More than half a dozen emergency shelters have been set up throughout Mississippi after the twister ripped through homes and businesses. 

After the twister first tore through the small town of Rolling Fork, Mississippi, storm chaser Zachary Hill tweeted: ‘The damage in Rolling Fork, Mississippi is BAD. People are trapped, we need help here.’

Authorities stressed the urgency of the situation, and Hill said police begged him to get the message out: ‘Major tornado damage, we need as many ambulances as possible and any help for search and rescue in this town.’ 

Rolling Fork mayor Eldridge Walker told WLBT-TV the tornado left him unable to leave his home after it caused significant damage and downed power lines leading to his property. 

‘The west part of Rolling Fork is a residential area, and just a number of houses over there have been completely destroyed,’ added former Rolling Fork mayor Fred Miller. 

‘Highway 61, where most of our businesses are, all of the businesses on 61 have been completely destroyed. People are trapped in a couple of the eateries, and people are trying to get them out now.’

The tornado has come after several states through the Midwest were battered by a severe weather front, with southern Missouri hit by nearly three inches of rain Thursday night.

Torrential rainfall in the area led to the deaths of two people after their car was swept away in the deluge. Authorities said six young adults were inside the vehicle, however only four escaped. 

The body of Devon Holt, 20, of Grovespring, was found at 3.30am, and the body of Alexander Roman-Ranelli, 19, of Springfield, was recovered about six hours later, Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Thomas Young said. 

Reports indicate a suspected tornado also touched down early Friday in north Texas, damaging homes and downing trees and power lines. 

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards warned of potential tornados reaching the state into the weekend, as he urged residents to prepare for significant damage. 

As the tornado continued to wreak havoc through the state, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said in a tweet: ‘Many in the MS Delta need your prayer and God’s protection tonight.

‘We have activated medical support — surging more ambulances and other emergency assets for those affected. Search and rescue is active.’ 

The storm system is being fueled by a dip in the jet stream that powered through California on Tuesday and Wednesday resulting in tornadoes there including one that hit the downtown LA area – the first in the area since 1953.