Mississippi March 26 (US): Rescuers combed through debris Saturday after a powerful storm ripped through Mississippi late Friday, killing at least 25 people there and one in Alabama as it destroyed hundreds of buildings and spawned a tornado At least one destroyer. .
The tornado remained on the ground for about an hour and cut a path of destruction about 170 miles (274 km) long, according to Nicholas Price, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jackson, Mississippi.
In Rolling Fork, a town of about 1,900 residents in western Mississippi that was hit hardest, homes were reduced to rubble, tree trunks were snapped like boughs, and cars were tossed aside like toys. Reuters reported that the town’s water tower was bent to the ground.
Michael Searcy, a storm chaser who saw the tornado approaching Rolling Fork, spent hours helping rescue trapped people.
In Alabama, which was also hit by the same storm system, rescuers pulled a man out of the mud when his trailer overturned, but the man later died of his injuries, according to the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office. This appears to be the only death reported in that state as of Saturday evening.
US President Joe Biden called the images from Mississippi “heartbreaking” and said in a statement that he had spoken with Reeves and offered his condolences and his full federal support for the recovery.
Mississippi officials have set up three emergency shelters, including at the National Guard Armory in Rolling Fork. The White House said the FEMA director will travel to Mississippi on Sunday.
Portions of Mississippi and Alabama could face damaging winds, hail and potential tornadoes again Sunday, the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center said.
About 26,000 customers were without power as of Saturday night in Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee due to the storm.
WWA