At least 23 dead after tornado-spawning storms roll through Mississippi. One town is ‘gone,’ resident says

At least 23 people were killed, dozens injured and four missing after powerful storms and at least one tornado pummeled Mississippi on Friday night, ripping roofs off homes, nearly leveling some neighborhoods and knocking out power for thousands, officials said Saturday morning.

“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,” the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said.

Search-and-rescue efforts for storm victims began after a confirmed tornado struck the towns of Silver City and Rolling Fork, the latter of which was described by one resident as obliterated.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Brandy Showah told CNN. “This was a very great small town, and now it’s gone.”

At least 13 deaths were recorded roughly 60 miles northwest of Jackson in hard-hit Sharkey County, home to Rolling Fork, according to county coroner Angelia Easton.

Three others were killed and at least two people are in critical condition in Humphreys County, emergency management director Royce Steed told CNN early Saturday morning.

In Carroll County, three people died in one home, coroner Mark Stiles told CNN, adding that it appears they were killed in a tornado. Additionally, two people were killed in Monroe County in northeastern Mississippi, coroner Alan Gurley said.

In ravaged Rolling Fork, the tornado damaged homes and buildings, gutted trees and tore down power lines in the area, Showah told CNN. The tornado was moving at 50 mph when it was located over the town just after 8 p.m. CT, the National Weather Service said.