Mississippi braces for new storms after tornadoes kill 25

The state of mississippiin the south of USAis preparing this Sunday for new storms, after several tornadoes devastated the region and left at least 25 dead.

“It’s a tragedythe governor tweeted. Tate Reevesspeaking of the “devastating damage” caused Friday night by tornadoes that struck more than 150 km of the state of mississippi from west to east.

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The balance amounts to 25 dead and dozens injured, according to the state emergency services (MSEMA). Four people who had been reported missing have been found, he added.

Rescue teams continue to search for victims.

President Joe Biden ordered this Sunday to deploy federal aid to the state, intended for grants for temporary accommodation, home repairs and loans at reduced rates to cover losses from uninsured property.

In a previous statement, the president maintained that he saw images “heartbreaking” and stressed that his government will “everything possible to help“, the time that “be necessary”.

Remains of crushed homes and cars are seen in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, on March 25, 2023, after a tornado struck the area. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP) (CHANDAN KHANNA /)

Terrible weather conditions are forecast for this Sunday in the region, with strong winds and hail. The emergency management agency warned that “the possibility of tornadoes could not be excluded”.

In Rolling Fork, a city of about 2,000 inhabitants in the western state of Mississippi, could be seen rows of houses torn down, the streets full of rubble and overturned cars. There were also trees scattered on the ground.

Some 4,800 residents had no power in Mississippi, and nearly 11,000 homes and businesses remained dark in the neighboring state of Alabamaaccording to the website poweroutage.us.

“My city has disappeared”

“almost everything has been destroyed” in the city, he told AFP by phone Patricia Perkins, a 61-year-old neighbor. “Most of the stores were razed” by the tornado, explained this hardware store employee.

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aaron rigsby“tornado finder”, he explained that he arrived at the place on Friday night and heard “screams of people trapped in the rubble, calling for help”.

“There was a lady who did not manage to take cover in time and was trapped, the roof of her house fell on her”, he told AFP by phone. “I managed to free her from the rubble”, she was injured in the leg, he added.

Several victims were located and extracted from the rubble to be transferred to the hospital, the mayor of Rolling Fork, said on CNN. Eldridge Walker.

“my city has disappeared“, lament.

Aerial view of a destroyed neighborhood in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, after a tornado hit the area on March 25, 2023. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP) (CHANDAN KHANNA /)

“Houses that were torn down can be replaced, but you can’t replace a life”, he added.

One dead in Alabama

According to ABC television, at least 13 people died in the county of Sharkeyanother three in the Carroll and two in Monroe.

a policeman from Silver City indicated to ABC the death of a person in this city, one of the most affected.

In Alabama, the storms were also violent and a man was killed when his trailer overturned, Morgan County authorities announced.

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“Our top priority right now, especially for local first responders, is keeping people alive and locating people to make sure they are safe.”, he declared to the channel WJTV Malory Whitespokesperson for the MSEMA emergency services.

Tornadoes, a meteorological phenomenon as impressive as it is difficult to predict, are common in USAespecially in the center and south of the country.

In December 2021, some 80 people died after the passage of tornadoes in the state of Kentucky.

Source: Elcomercio