A deadly tornado has touched down in Mississippi, officials said.
At least seven people were killed in a “devastating” tornado that rolled through Mississippi on Friday, leaving a trail of damage for more than 100 miles, local and federal authorities said.
Search and rescue operations were underway in Sharkey and Humphreys counties, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said Friday. The agency has issued a series of tornado warnings for counties across the state.
“Many in MS Delta need your prayers and God’s protection tonight,” said Gov. Tate Reeves on Twitter. “We have activated medical support — ramping up more ambulances and other emergency assets for those affected. Search and rescue is active.”
At least seven people died, Sharkey County Coroner Angelia Easton told ABC News, adding that she could not confirm their ages.
As thunderstorms battered the state late Friday, a tornado was reported around 8:50 p.m. local time in Silver City and Rolling Fork, the National Weather Service said. From there, the tornado rolled northwest of Tchula and along Highway 49, officials said.
“9:31 PM – A confirmed tornado is on the ground moving across I-55 moving through the city of Winona in Montgomery County soon,” NWS officials in Jackson, Mississippi, said in an alert on Twitter about half an hour ago. “Hide now!”
A Tornado Emergency alert has been issued for Winona, a town about 100 miles northeast of Rolling Fork, with a “destructive tornado moving northeast of the town,” the NWS official said.
Jose Watson, a Mississippi Highway Patrol trooper, urged people to stay away from Silver City unless they have family there. He said that the scene was “chaotic”, due to the traffic in the area which made it difficult for the search and rescue crews to do their jobs.
“Please be advised, Silver City has been hit really, really hard with a tornado,” Watson said in a video posted on Facebook, before describing the damage in some areas as “very catastrophic.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.