At least four people have been confirmed dead and about 12 others injured after tornadoes swept through the Midwestern U.S. state of Michigan on Friday, according to local authorities and reports from U.S. media.
Officials from the Branch County Sheriff’s Office said a tornado that touched down near Union City, Michigan in the southern part of the state killed three people and left multiple residents wounded.
Authorities added that emergency personnel were quickly dispatched to assist victims and evaluate the damage caused by the severe storm.
“Our thoughts are with those who have lost family members, friends, and property during this tragic incident,” the Branch County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
In a separate incident roughly 50 miles (about 80 kilometres) away in Cass County, Michigan, officials reported that another tornado claimed one life and injured several others.
Local authorities said the extreme weather caused extensive destruction across the area, with numerous trees uprooted and blocking roads as well as damaging buildings.
The storm also knocked out electricity in parts of the region, leaving more than 500 residents without power.
Emergency officials noted that teams have begun assessing the level of damage to homes and other infrastructure impacted by the tornadoes.
“Emergency Management personnel will be conducting damage assessments in the affected area as required by the State of Michigan,” the Cass County Sheriff’s Office said in an emergency alert.
Meanwhile, Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan, announced that the state had activated its emergency operations centre to coordinate relief efforts and assist the communities affected by the disaster.
“I want to thank all the first responders on the ground who reacted quickly to keep Michiganders safe,” Whitmer wrote in a post on X.
