UPDATE: MEMA confirms 23 dead in tornado outbreak

Published 7:57 am Saturday, March 25, 2023

At least 23 people are confirmed dead in Mississippi following a major tornado that hit Rolling Fork, Anguilla and Silver City Friday night.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) reported early Saturday morning that dozens are also injured and at least four people were missing.

Sharkey County Coroner Angelia Eason said at least 13 people were killed in Rolling Fork. Six bodies were recovered from a mobile home park.

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Deaths from the storm were reported in Sharkey, Humphreys, Carroll, and Monroe counties.

The tornado devastated the entire town of Rolling Fork, causing damage to homes, businesses, power lines and gas leaks. It continued through the Delta, carving a track that extended nearly 100 miles to the northeast to Winona.

Initial estimates state the tornado was an EF-4 and reached approximately one mile wide, but the National Weather Service has not confirmed.

Another tornado from the same storm system struck Amory, located about 25 miles southeast of Tupelo, late Friday night. Numerous homes were damaged, but no deaths were immediately reported.