ROLLING FORK, Miss.—Powerful tornadoes that ripped through Mississippi—destroying buildings and obliterating at least one town—killed almost two dozen people, officials said Saturday. They warned that the casualty toll could go higher.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said in a Twitter post that search and rescue teams from local and state agencies were deployed to help victims impacted by the tornadoes. The agency confirmed early Saturday that 23 people had died, four were missing and dozens were injured.
A few minutes later, the agency wrote on Twitter: “Unfortunately, these numbers are expected to change.”
The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado caused damage about 60 miles northeast of Jackson, Mississippi. The rural towns of Silver City and Rolling Fork reported destruction as the tornado swept northeast at 70 mph without weakening, racing towards Alabama through towns including Winona and Amory into the night….