Severe storms swept across Mississippi on Wednesday night, resulting in the identification of at least 14 tornadoes, according to local authorities. One of these tornadoes has been officially confirmed.
A report from CBS affiliate WJTV indicated that a 1-year-old child was unaccounted for following the storms, as emergency responders in Lincoln County provided updates. At least 17 individuals sustained injuries of varying severity.
The storms caused extensive destruction, demolishing numerous homes, uprooting trees, and disrupting power lines in several counties. In Tylertown, a house was completely consumed by fire after it was reportedly struck by lightning, according to eyewitnesses.
In Lincoln County, fallen trees crushed a vehicle and trapped residents in a mobile home park located in Bogue Chitto, WJTV reported.
“I was just watching TikTok in my room when I thought I heard thunder. I went to the living room and then returned to my bedroom, only to find it was gone,” shared resident Max Mahaffey with WAPT-TV. He reported no personal injuries, although his grandmother sustained an ankle injury and some neighbors experienced cuts and bruises.
The National Weather Service warned of “a very large and dangerous tornado” that moved from eastern Lincoln County into Lawrence County.
Governor Tate Reeves announced that multiple tornadoes had been detected in the central and western regions of the state, and he noted that the state’s Emergency Management Agency was actively coordinating the response efforts. “Pray for Mississippi,” he urged in a social media post.
Emergency management officials in Lincoln County reported significant damage and several injuries due to the severe weather, but thankfully, no fatalities were recorded. “Damage evaluations are still underway, and many roads in the county are obstructed. We kindly ask the public to avoid sightseeing as crews conduct their work,” the department stated early Thursday.
Further storms were anticipated on Thursday, which could lead to tornadoes in parts of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, as indicated by the weather service. Additionally, strong storms were also expected in certain areas of the Carolinas and Texas.
Rob Marciano contributed to this report.
