WASHINGTON, United States 鈥� At least 23 people died as violent storms and at least one tornado ripped through the US state of Mississippi, tearing off roofs and flattening neighborhoods, officials and residents said Saturday.
The southern state鈥檚 emergency management agency said at least four people were missing and dozens were injured, while tens of thousands of people in Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee were without power.
鈥淎t least 23 Mississippians were killed by last night鈥檚 violent tornados. We know that many more are injured. Search and rescue teams are still active,鈥� Governor Tate Reeves said on Twitter.
鈥淭he loss will be felt in these towns forever. Please pray for God鈥檚 hand to be over all who lost family and friends.鈥�
Confirming the death toll at 23, the emergency management agency cautioned: 鈥淯nfortunately, these numbers are expected to change.鈥�
Search and rescue operations were underway in Sharkey and Humphreys counties, about 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of the state capital Jackson, the agency said on Twitter.
鈥淢y city is gone,鈥� Rolling Fork Mayor Eldridge Walker, whose town is located in Sharkey county, told CNN.
He told CBS affiliate WJTV that when he was able to leave his home, 鈥渨hat we found is devastation all around us.鈥�
鈥楥ompletely gone鈥�
Woodrow Johnson, a local official in Humphreys County, told CNN his wife woke him up and they heard what sounded like a train.
鈥淚t was a very scary thing,鈥� Johnson said, adding his neighbor鈥檚 house, a trailer, was 鈥渃ompletely gone.鈥�
The National Weather Service warned residents that as clean-up operations continue, 鈥渄angers remain even after the storms move on.鈥�
TV footage showed homes leveled and debris strewn across roads as emergency services attempted to get to those who needed help.
鈥淎s far as official damage numbers, we鈥檙e not going to have that until morning, daylight time,鈥� said the emergency management agency鈥檚 Malary White.
鈥淥ur main priority right now, especially for the local first responders, it鈥檚 life safety and accounting for the people and making sure they are safe,鈥� she told CBS 黑料社 affiliate WJTV.
Tornado warnings had been issued in various counties throughout the state on Friday, but by 2:48 am on Saturday, the National Weather Service said the 鈥渢ornado watch has expired across our forecast area.鈥�
鈥淎dditional showers and thunderstorms are expected across our area,鈥� it said on Twitter, adding that they were 鈥渘ot expected to become severe.鈥�
READ: At least 5 dead as tornadoes rip through Alabama, destroying homes