The state of Alabama was hit hardest, where seven people died, the police in the Autauga district of the German Press Agency confirmed on Friday. According to the authorities, no other people are currently missing in the district. In Autauga and in the town of Selma, around 50 kilometers away, the storm had raged particularly hard, according to the emergency services. Dozens of houses were destroyed or badly damaged. The weather service reported 33 tornadoes or severe storms nationwide.
In Selma, most roads were closed because of broken power lines and trees, as the city announced on Facebook. Rescue teams are on duty to provide assistance and clear the streets. Citizens were asked not to go outside. Children should not leave schools. The weather service had warned of a “large and extremely dangerous tornado” in the area.
In neighboring Georgia, a five-year-old child was killed when a tree fell on a car. An employee of the Georgia Department of Transportation was also killed, it said. The governor of Georgia 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 US aviation authority FAA, aircraft had to remain temporarily on the ground on Thursday due to severe storms. According to the website poweroutage.us, around 60,000 households in Alabama and Georgia were without power on Friday night. On Friday afternoon (local time) there were still a good 30,000 households.
(sda)