Deadly Mississippi tornado brings devastation to US state

At slightest 26 radical person died successful Mississippi and Alabama aft a tornado tore done the confederate US states.

Search and rescue efforts are continuing, and the Mississippi authorities authorities has declared a authorities of emergency.

In Rolling Fork, crushed cars, bricks and solid litter the streets - the municipality has been astir wholly wiped out.

One nonmigratory told the BBC helium was fortunate to past aft seeking structure successful his bath tub.

Approaching the neighbourhood successful occidental Sharkey County, determination is small denotation of thing unusual. 

The lush farmland that surrounds it is wholly untouched, the trees aren't adjacent bent retired of signifier by wind. Then abruptly you spot the houses that were successful the tornado's path.

They person been wholly obliterated.

Homes wherever household and friends had gathered little than 24 hours before, acceptable for the weekend, person been reduced to rubble.

Timber frames person been snapped into pieces. There are upturned washing machines, but it is intolerable to place thing that mightiness person been a kitchen.

Amongst the rubble, determination are vehicles that person been tossed astir similar toys. There is the occasional children's artifact and different signs of the lives that were lived present conscionable hours earlier.

The tornado deed successful the mediate of the night, radical had been sleeping, they had not heard the alerts. For galore the archetypal denotation that thing unspeakable was happening was the noise.

Francisco McKnight told the BBC it was a occurrence that helium is alive. The lone informing helium had was the sound, helium said - helium had ne'er heard thing similar the sound of the upwind connected Friday nighttime and ne'er wants to again.

He took 1 look extracurricular and past ran into his bath and got into the bath tub. He said that was what saved him.

The lone portion of his location that is inactive lasting are parts of 2 of the bath walls.

The tornado lasted conscionable 5 to 10 minutes helium said, and helium sat successful the tub arsenic the remainder of his location was ripped away. For now, helium staying successful 1 of the shelters that person been acceptable up successful the area.

He does not cognize what helium volition bash next, but helium says someway he'll rebuild his life.

Mississippi authorities politician Tate Reeves visited Silver City and Winona connected Saturday to conscionable with affected residents who had been deed by the tornado's fury.

Sharing an update connected Twitter, Mr Reeves described the concern arsenic a "tragedy", writing: "We are blessed with brave, susceptible responders and loving neighbours. Please proceed to pray."

The hunt and rescue efforts volition proceed successful Mississippi arsenic much storms are predicted to deed parts of Alabama and Georgia aboriginal connected Sunday and perchance bring ample hail.

US President Joe Biden besides offered his enactment for the storm-affected region. He described the images coming retired of Mississippi arsenic "heartbreaking", and said the national authorities would "do everything we tin to help".