Severe storms swept through Mississippi, 26 killed

In USA, rescuers raced Saturday to search for survivors and help hundreds of people left homeless after a powerful tornado cut a devastating path through Mississippi, killing at least 26 people. The tornado devastated a swath of the Mississippi Delta town of Rolling Fork, reducing homes to piles of rubble, flipping cars on their sides and toppling the town's water tower. Residents hunkered down in bath tubs and hallways during Friday night's storm and later broke into a John Deere store that they converted into a triage center for the wounded.

BREAKING: At least 23 Mississippi residents have been reported dead after a strong tornado struck the towns of Silver City and Rolling Fork last night. Further details of this horrible tragedy below:

- 23 Dead, but dozens are injured or still missing.
- Rolling Fork,… pic.twitter.com/aEnJN5gPlk

— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) March 25, 2023

The powerful storm system that generated the tornado, accompanied by thunderstorms and driving rain, cut a long path across Mississippi late Friday, slamming several towns along the way.

Silver City, Mississippi.

And this is just the beginning.... a tornado is coming over the city. pic.twitter.com/TK3ZmJO1X4

— Юрий (@Youri47021927) March 25, 2023

US President Joe Biden vowed to provide emergency support for victims of a devastating tornado that tore through several Mississippi towns. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said he spoke with Biden about the deadly tornadoes they faced overnight. "... He assured us FEMA would be there to support our response. The flood of support from governors, businesses, charities, and federal admin has been tremendous - matches the community here on the ground," Reeves tweeted, referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves has declared a state of emergency in the wake of severe storms and a devastating tornado that swept through Mississippi and Alabama Friday evening. Other parts of the Deep South were digging out from damage caused by other suspected twisters. One man died in Morgan County, Alabama, the sheriff's department there said in a tweet.

INTENSE Damage in Rolling Forks Mississippi after a Violent #tornado struck the region last night. @SevereStudios @MyRadarWX #mswx #wxtwitter pic.twitter.com/S32y2BpxRF

— Jordan Hall (@JordanHallWX) March 25, 2023

Throughout Saturday, survivors walked around dazed and in shock as they broke through debris and fallen trees with chain saws, searching for survivors. Power lines were pinned under decades-old oaks, their roots torn from the ground.

Widespread tornado damage in Amory Mississippi. pic.twitter.com/I8krdktz6o

— Matt (@PhotoJouMATT) March 26, 2023

Preliminary information based on estimates from storm reports and radar data indicate that the tornado was on the ground for more than an hour and traversed at least 170 miles (274 kilometers), said Lance Perrilloux, a meteorologist with the weather service’s Jackson, Mississippi, office.

Rolling fork Mississippi,before and after tornado damage from last night . pic.twitter.com/JudHGZLS9O

— Johnny U (@Johnnypatriot64) March 25, 2023

Tornadoes, a weather phenomenon notoriously difficult to predict, are relatively common in the US, especially in the central and southern parts of the country.