Hundreds of homes damaged by storms as 'multiple tornadoes' hit Mississippi

Powerful storms, including at least one confirmed tornado and multiple reported ones, have ripped through parts of Mississippi.

Almost 500 homes have been damaged, with trees torn up and power lines brought down.

There were no immediate reports of deaths from the storms that hit several counties on Wednesday night.

Scott Simmons, a Mississippi Emergency Management Agency spokesperson, said at least 17 people were injured.

He said 12 of those hurt were moved from the Wash Trailer Park in the small community of Bogue Chitto, in Lincoln County, with the park severely damaged.

"I was just watching TikTok on my bed and thought it was thunder," resident Max Mahaffey told WAPT-TV.

"I went to my living room. I went back to my room, and the room's gone."

He said he was not injured, but his grandmother hurt her ankle and some of his neighbours suffered cuts and bruises.

The National Weather Service said "a very large and dangerous tornado" moved from eastern Lincoln County into Lawrence County.

Read more from Sky News:
Shell gives update on costly war damage to its output
Purported suicide note left by Jeffrey Epstein released

Governor Tate Reeves said multiple tornadoes were reported in the central and western parts of the state and that the state emergency management agency was coordinating response efforts.

He said in a post on X: "Please continue to pray for Mississippi!"

The severe weather caused major damage and several injuries but no deaths, emergency officials in Lincoln County said.

The emergency management department said early on Thursday: "Damage assessments are ongoing, there are multiple roads blocked in the county we ask that you please refrain from sightseeing as crews are working."

Lincoln County reported at least 200 homes were damaged.

Lamar County, to the southeast, reported about 275 homes damaged, the state emergency management agency said.

Mr Reeves said 30 roads there were closed due to debris and American Red Cross support was available.

Another 10 to 12 homes were damaged in Lawrence County.

More storms were set for Thursday, with parts of Alabama, Georgia and Florida facing possible tornadoes, the weather service said.

It said "isolated strong to severe storms" were also possible in parts of the Carolinas, as well as the lower Rio Grande Valley and Deep South Texas.

(c) Sky News 2026: Hundreds of homes damaged by storms as 'multiple tornadoes' hit Mississippi