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A devastating tornado and thunderstorms hit several cities in Mississippi, a state in the southern United States. The number of victims is not yet final. This Saturday, the National Weather Service reported that the tornado alert had been lifted for the entire affected area, but warned that new gusts of wind and more thunderstorms could occur.
The death toll is expected to continue to rise. At least 23 people were killed after a tornado and thunderstorms ripped through the southern US state of Mississippi on Friday night, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said on Saturday.
“We know that there are many more injured. The search and rescue teams are still active,” he specified on Twitter, also specifying that the authorities have “activated the medical support system, with the increase in the number of ambulances and other emergency devices for ( assist) those affected”.
The Mississippi State Emergency Services (MSEMA) confirmed the governor’s statements, also noting that “unfortunately, these numbers (of victims) are expected to change” upwards.
“The state has deployed relief efforts in Sharkey and Humphreys counties,” about 110 kilometers north of the capital, Jackson, MSEMA’s Malary White told television.
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.
— Governor Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) March 25, 2023
The images that followed one another on television this Saturday showed houses leveled and rubble strewn on the roads as emergency services tried to reach people who needed help.
“My town no longer exists,” lamented on the mayor of Rolling Fork, a town of about 2,000 inhabitants in west-central Mississippi, which was especially hard hit by the tornado.
“We had to help remove corpses from the houses”
According to ABC, at least 13 people died in Sharkey County, as well as three in neighboring Carroll County and two in Monroe County. In addition, a highway patrolman from Silver City, in Humphreys County, told ABC that one person had died.
And the death toll could rise considerably. Several victims have been located and taken from the rubble of their homes, to be transferred to hospitals and receive treatment.
“I thought she was dead” after the tornado passed. “We had to help get bodies out of houses,” Shanta Howard, a Rolling Fork resident, told local station WAPT.
“The losses will be felt in these towns forever,” Governor Tate Reeves tweeted, asking for prayers for the victims and their families.
“We heard a noise, like a train, for 45 seconds to a minute, then it was over,” Woodrow Johnson, a local Humphrey County official, told about the tornado. Johnson recounted that he had lost his home. “We’re strong, we’re going to persevere and we’re going to get through it,” he said, however.
“As far as the extent of the damage, we won’t have it until dawn,” said MSEMA’s Malary White. “Our priority right now, especially for emergency services, is to (keep) lives safe and locate people to make sure they’re safe,” she explained on local CBS News, WJTV.
Tornado watches had been issued for several counties in the state on Friday, but at 2:48 p.m. (local time) Saturday, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Jackson reported that “a tornado watch had been lifted for the entire affected area. “. “New gusts of wind and more thunderstorms are expected in our area,” he tweeted, noting that “they are not expected to be strong.”
with AFP
