The state of Alabama was hardest hit, where seven people died, police in the Autauga district of the German news agency confirmed on Friday. Authorities say no other people are currently missing in the area. In Autauga and in the town of Selma, about 50 kilometers away, the storm had raged particularly hard, according to the emergency services. Dozens of homes were destroyed or severely damaged. The weather service reported 33 tornadoes or severe storms across the country.
In Selma, most roads were closed due to broken power lines and trees, the city announced on Facebook. Rescue teams are on hand to provide assistance and clean up the streets. Citizens were asked not to go outside. Children are not allowed to leave school. The weather service had warned of a “major and extremely dangerous tornado” in the area.
In neighboring Georgia, a five-year-old child was killed when a tree fell on a car. A Georgia Department of Transportation employee was also killed, it said. Georgia’s governor confirmed both deaths on Friday. A tornado was also spotted near Atlanta International Airport, the busiest airport in the United States by passenger numbers. According to the American aviation authority FAA, planes had to be temporarily grounded due to severe thunderstorms on Thursday. About 60,000 homes in Alabama and Georgia were without power Friday evening, according to the website poweroutage.us. Friday afternoon (local time) there were still more than 30,000 households.
(SDA)