At least 25 people have died after devastating tornadoes hit the southern US state of Mississippi, with entire blocks leveled, as more dangerous weather is expected in the region today.

“This is a tragedy,” tweeted Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, speaking of “catastrophic damage.”

“The scale of the loss and damage is evident in all the affected areas,” Reeves explained after traveling to Silver City, one of the towns hardest hit by the tornadoes.

The toll is 25 dead and dozens injured, according to the Mississippi State Emergency Management Agency (MSEMA). Four people who were missing have been “located”, they added.

Search and rescue teams are working to locate any other victims.

“The priority at this stage” is to guarantee “the safety of survivors and to locate people to make sure they are safe,” MSEMA’s Mallory White said.

Mississippi

For his part, US President Joe Biden announced today the release of federal aid for the affected areas in order to set up temporary shelters, carry out damage restoration work and provide loans with reduced interest rates to cover uninsured assets.

About 4,800 residents are without power in Mississippi and nearly 11,000 households and businesses in neighboring Alabama, according to the website poweroutage.us.

Besides, the state of Mississippi is preparing for dangerous weather today as well, mainly strong winds and hail, with the authorities warning that “tornadoes are possible”.

Mississippi

Neighboring Alabama also saw severe storms, with one person killed when his mobile home overturned, the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office said.

Tornadoes, an unpredictable weather phenomenon, are common in the US, especially in the central and southern states. In December 2021, approximately 80 people were killed by tornadoes in Kentucky.