At least 23 were killed after a tornado ripped through Mississippi late Friday night, destroying houses and cutting off power for over 100,000 residents.
“We have numerous local and state search and rescue teams that continue to work this morning. A number of assets are on the ground to assist those that have been impacted,” the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) noted in an official statement Saturday morning.
At least 126,000 residents of Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama have been without power since Saturday morning PowerOutage.us reports.
Over a dozen fatalities were registered in Rolling Fork situated in Sharkey County, about 60 miles northwest of Jackson.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” one local resident, Brandy Showah told CNN. “This was a very great small town, and now it’s gone.”
Rolling Fork and Silver City were two of the hardest hit towns in the tornado’s path.
One eyewitness, Stan Dorroh, a member of the North Mississippi Storm Chasers and Spotters, described the destruction in Silver City, home to 300 people, as completely “devastating,” adding “the images will haunt me forever.”
HEARTBREAKING IMAGES: Our field crews are on the ground in Silver City, MS where a large and extremely dangerous #tornado caused extensive damage to the town. pic.twitter.com/YHqwu3OIRm
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) March 25, 2023
Although the death toll currently stands at 23, MEMA announced on Saturday morning “these numbers are expected to change.”
Unfortunately, these numbers are expected to change. https://t.co/XTGNJUxw3W
— msema (@MSEMA) March 25, 2023
Minutes afterward, Governor Tate Reeves (R., Miss.) expressed his condolences to the families that had lost loved ones.
“At least twenty three Mississippians were killed by last night’s violent tornados. 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,” Reeves tweeted out Saturday morning.
At least twenty three Mississippians were killed by last night’s violent tornados. 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
Governor Tate added that many in the “MS [Mississippi] Delta need your prayer and God’s protection tonight. Watch weather reports and stay cautious through the night, Mississippi!”
In the last day, there have been eleven tornadoes reported across Mississippi and Alabama, according to the Storm Prediction Center.