(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
OAN Roy Francis
UPDATED 7:57 AM – Saturday, March 25, 2023
Extreme weather conditions in southern states led to at least one deadly tornado that tore through parts of Mississippi on Friday night, leaving at least 23 people dead, and dozens injured across the state.
Tornadoes tore through Mississippi and Alabama late through the night, with Mississippi receiving most of the damage. As of Saturday morning, in Mississippi, 23 people were confirmed to have died, dozens injured, four people missing, along with wrecked buildings and thousands of homes without power.
A tornado has touched down in Silver City, MS, in Humphreys County. Highway 49W is congested at this time with emergency crews. Please use an alternate route if possible. pic.twitter.com/npfYxnMGSN
— MHP Greenwood (@MHPTroopD) March 25, 2023
On Saturday morning, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency confirmed the death toll. The Agency also said that the death toll is expected to rise.
“We can confirm 23 dead, dozens injured, four missing due to last night’s tornadoes,” they said. “We have numerous local and state search and rescue teams that continue to work this morning. A number of assets are on the ground to assist those that have been impacted.”
Governor Tate Reeves (R-Miss.) took to Twitter to also confirm the reports and said that Search and Rescue teams are active in the area, along with medical support and emergency assets.
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
Many in the MS Delta need your prayer and God’s protection tonight.
We have activated medical support—surging more ambulances and other emergency assets for those affected. Search and rescue is active.
Watch weather reports and stay cautious through the night, Mississippi!
— Governor Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) March 25, 2023
According to the National Weather Service, Rolling Fork and Silver City, two small towns about an hour from Jackson city, saw most of the devastation. In Sharkey County, where Rolling Fork is located, 13 people are confirmed to have died.
Rolling Fork Mayor, Eldridge Walker, told WJTV that dozens of homes in his town were destroyed, including his own, after the tornado tore through the town at almost 70 miles per hour. The mayor emphasized that the main priority was to rescue those who were injured. He urged citizens to stay in place, and wait for first responders to arrive.
According to PowerOutage.us, as of early Saturday morning, over 15,000 customers in Mississippi, around 21,000 in Alabama, and over 63,000 in Tennessee were without power.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Storm Prediction Center issued a warning for the weekend. It warned that “severe thunderstorms” were possible in east Texas and Louisiana, along with Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. They also stated that “large hail, damaging gusts and a couple tornadoes appear possible.”
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