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24 dead and dozens injured as deadly tornado rips through Mississippi

Mississippi Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 23 people were killed and that four were missing after the state was destroyed by the tornado

SHARKEY COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI: Following a tornado that tore across Mississippi and into Alabama on Friday evening, 24 people are killed and numerous others have been injured and at least four are reported missing. Widespread damage was caused after the tornado ripped through the Mississippi communities of Silver City and Rolling Fork on Friday night at a speed of 70 mph before moving on to the Alabama towns of Winona and Armory hours later. 

"The loss will be felt in these towns forever. Please pray for God’s hand to be over all who lost family and friends," Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves tweeted after the storm hit. He added, "We know that many more are injured. Search and rescue teams are still active."

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'We are going to come back strong'

Less than 2,000 people live in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, a community that is frequently threatened by water. “My city is gone. But we are resilient and we are going to come back strong,” Rolling Fork’s mayor Eldridge Walker told CNN.

'A number of assets are on the ground'

In its morning update, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 23 people were killed and that four were missing. In a later tweet, they warned that "these numbers are expected to change". "We can confirm 23 dead, dozens injured, 4 missing due to last night's tornadoes. 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," MSEMA Tweeted. 

'Houses that are torn up can be replaced'

"There are some structures that have been left – some are not as damaged as others. Houses that are torn up can be replaced," Walker said. In hard-hit Sharkey County, where Rolling Fork is located, at least 13 deaths have been reported. This is about 60 miles northwest of Jackson. Three more people died in Humphreys County, and at least two more are in critical condition. Three deaths occurred in one residence in Carroll County. Also, according to the outlet's citation of official data, two fatalities occurred in Monroe County in northeastern Mississippi. A man from Morgan County, Alabama, was killed after being trapped inside his mobile home Friday night.

'This is a tragedy'

"Just completed command briefing with our disaster response team. Devastating damage—as everyone knows. This is a tragedy. I am on my way to Sharkey County to be with the people first hit. We are blessed with brave, capable responders and loving neighbors. Please continue to pray," Governor Tate Reeves Tweeted.

According to the tracking website PowerOutage.us, the storm has caused power outages for more than 83,000 homes and businesses throughout Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee as of 8.50 am ET, with more than 47,000 outages reported in Tennessee alone.