After one of the deadliest tornadoes ever to strike the US state of Mississippi, search and rescue operations are underway.
At least 24 people have perished as a result of Friday night’s tornado, and more are believed to be buried beneath the rubble of the destroyed buildings.
The tornado devastated several rural communities by bringing down trees and utility lines.
Several southern states are also preparing for the onset of severe cyclones.
The storm system that swept through Mississippi spawned a tornado that wreaked havoc on communities throughout the state. The strongest tornado destroyed dozens of buildings in several small towns, in addition to toppling vehicles and power lines.
Rolling Fork, a western Mississippi town in Sharkey County, has been swept out, according to its mayor.
CNN quoted Mayor Eldridge Walker as stating, “My city is gone.” “However, we are resilient and will recover.”
He added that many families in his community were “affected and suffering” and that he could only see “destruction.”
According to residents of Rolling Fork, the rear windows of their residences were blown out.
Brandy Showah, a local inhabitant, told CNN, “I’ve never seen anything like this… This was a wonderful small municipality that no longer exists.”
Cornel Knight told the Associated Press that he, his wife, and their three-year-old daughter were at a relative’s house in Rolling Fork just before the tornado struck and that the atmosphere was “eeriely quiet.” He stated that the sky was dark, but “you could see the direction of every blown transformer.”
According to him, the tornado struck the home of another relative, where a wall collapsed and confined several individuals inside.
The governor of the state of Mississippi, Tate Reeves, is en route to Sharkey County to confer with affected residents.
Mr. Reeves, in a Twitter update, referred to the situation as a “tragedy” and wrote, “We are blessed with courageous, capable responders and caring neighbors.” Continue your prayers.”
US President Joe Biden referred to the images emanating from Mississippi as “heartbreaking. And added that the federal government “will do everything we can to assist.”
“We will remain as long as necessary. We will collaborate to provide the assistance you require to recover,” he said in a statement.
It is still unclear whether one or multiple cyclones struck the area on Friday evening. Although the National Weather Service predicted multiple tornadoes yesterday, it is conceivable that the devastation was caused by a “skipping tornado” – a single twister that lifts from the ground only to return.
Sam Emmerson from the University of Oklahoma’s School of Meteorology stated that the “extremely powerful” tornado carried detritus above 30,000 feet. (9144m).
Concerned about the strength of a tornado about to strike the town of Amery, a local weather forecaster interrupted his television forecast to offer a prayer for the town’s residents.
