Death toll from violent Mississippi tornado rises to 23

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
25 Mar 2023 17:38

The emergency management agency cautions that the numbers are expected to change as danger persists and more people are expected to be missing.

A view of a car submerged in water and flood from the tornado in Mississippi, US on March 24, 2023. (AP)

Mississippi officials said on Saturday that at least 23 have died due to the violent storms and tornado that ripped through the southern US state.

Mississippi's emergency management agency announced that at least four people were missing and dozens were injured. The tornado also left tens of thousands of people in Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee without power.

"At least 23 Mississippians were killed by last night's violent tornados. We know that many more are injured. Search and rescue teams are still active," Governor Tate Reeves said on Twitter.

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

Local television footage showed Rolling Fork, a town struck by the tornado, filled with the debris of what was once a row of houses and buildings. Cars were overturned and smashed, fences were ripped up, and trees were uprooted.

Governor Reeves also sent his condolences to the friends and families of the lost individuals.

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

Confirming the death toll at 23, the emergency management agency cautioned that the numbers are expected to change.

A local official in Humphreys County, Woodrow Johnson, told CNN that his wife woke him up thinking they heard a train. Their home was destroyed.

"It was a very scary thing," Johnson said, adding that his neighbor's house, a trailer, was "completely gone".

As clean-up operations continue, the National Weather Service warned that danger remains even after the storm moved on since meteorologists announced that more thunderstorms were expected.

Malary White, a spokeswoman for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, said that damage cannot be assessed yet until officials complete a survey in daylight.

"Our main priority right now, especially for the local first responders, it's life safety and accounting for the people and making sure they are safe," she told CBS News affiliate WJTV.

This area of the US in which Mississippi lies is home to frequent tornadoes. Back in January, seven people were killed after a tornado hit Alabama and Mississippi.