Status: 01/13/2023 07:30 a.m
Dozens of tornadoes have swept across the southeastern United States, causing severe damage. At least seven people died in Alabama and Georgia. Tens of thousands of homes were without power.
At least seven people have died in tornadoes and storms in the southeastern United States. The state of Alabama was hit hardest. Six people died there, as Governor Kay Ivey wrote on Twitter.
The hurricane raged particularly hard in the Autauga district and in the town of Selma, around 50 kilometers away, according to the emergency services. Dozens of houses were destroyed or badly damaged. Several people would still be missing. Rescue workers focused on sawing through fallen trees to check on people who needed help.
33 tornadoes or severe storms
Nationwide, the weather service reported 33 individual reports of suspected tornadoes. In Selma, most roads were closed due to broken power lines and trees, the city said on Facebook. Citizens were asked not to go outside. Children should not leave schools.
So far there have been no reports of deaths in Selma. In the face of widespread power outages, the City Council held a sidewalk meeting – by the light of cell phone flashlights – to declare an official state of emergency. Emergency accommodation was set up in a school building. A state of emergency was also declared in other counties such as Chambers, Coosa, Elmore and Tallapoosa due to the storm.
60,000 homes without power in Alabama and Georgia
A suspected tornado also raged in the neighboring state of Georgia. A driver was killed by a falling tree, authorities said.
A tornado was also spotted near Atlanta International Airport, the busiest US airport by passenger numbers. According to the US aviation authority FAA, aircraft had to remain temporarily on the ground due to severe storms.
According to the website poweroutage.us, around 60,000 households in Alabama and Georgia were without power on Friday night.