A Mississippi tornado has left four dead in its wake as it tore through the northern portion of the state and into Tennessee, authorities said.
The large and extremely dangerous tornado touched down near Clarksdale, the National Weather Service said, before moving through the northern portion of Mississippi and into Tennessee.
Watch the moment a tornado rips through Mississippi in the US https://t.co/w8Wsato2li pic.twitter.com/oQHBrzo2rB
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) December 24, 2015
Two more people were killed in Perry County, Tennessee, southwest of Nashville, as the storm system moved through the south.
Cows and a #tornado roping out near I-55 in Como, #Mississippi yesterday afternoon. #mswx #storm pic.twitter.com/WbC3zBzOiv
— Jason Cooley (@operation_chase) December 24, 2015
According to Tennessee emergency management director, Gary Rogers, two other people are still missing. Three homes were destroyed by the storm, which Rogers told CNN affiliate WZTV was the result of a likely tornado.
Mississippi MT @kevinmmcgrath Just watched a large wedge tornado cross HW 72 W of Walnut, MS https://t.co/pwBT239aIG pic.twitter.com/kSFCQ1pwqv
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) December 23, 2015
Among the dead is a 7-year-old Mississippi boy. Marshall County Coroner James Anderson said the boy was in a car with his family near Holly Springs, when a tornado came through the area. Although Anderson did not provide details on how the boy died, he confirmed it was weather-related.
Tornado destroys Mississippi's Holly Springs Motorsports Park.
Prayers to all in this community
Jeff Reed photo pic.twitter.com/8b7TvDLD1p
— Lost Speedways (@LostSpeedways) December 24, 2015
Three others died in Benton County as a result of the deadly storm, authorities confirmed.
"Particularly dangerous situation" alert issued as tornado touches down in Mississippi https://t.co/ou1Z4iaOjP pic.twitter.com/oFjmyKwSB7
— NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) December 23, 2015
According to Greg Flynn, spokesman for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, there were at least 40 people across six Mississippi counties injured as a result of the wild weather.
@NWSMemphis @JimCantore Damage at Claremont Ms. pic.twitter.com/jxO8xx4vf1
— Mark Noland (@marknoland) December 23, 2015
A seventh person — an 18-year-old woman — died Wednesday morning in Arkansas as a result of the deadly storm system. The woman was killed when a tree fell through her roof. Four other people were in the house at the time the storm hit, including an 18-month-old, who survived.