A tornado tore through parts of Brunswick County in southeastern North Carolina just after midnight, killing at least three people, injuring at least 10 people and trapping others in their homes, authorities said. The sheriff in the province described damage to many homes as ‘devastating’, especially in the Ocean Ridge Plantation area. Authorities said at least 50 homes were affected.
The twister also turned off power lines, reports CBS Wilmington, an affiliated WWAY TV, North Carolina. There was no word on how many people were trapped.
The station said first responders go from house to house in Ocean Ridge Plantation. Some houses there have been ripped from their foundations. Many trees were cut in half.
Brunswick County Sheriff John Ingram told a news conference early Tuesday that the scene was “something I’ve never seen before. A lot of destruction. It’s going to be a long recovery process.”
The Wilmington National Weather Service issued a tornado warning very late Monday night, saying a spinner had been confirmed, according to Honey Island near Honey Island.
The weather service reported on Twitter about any damage:
Brunswick County Emergency Management said people were trapped in homes.
The Wilmington Fire Department also used Twitter:
At 1 a.m., the Leland Fire Department posted on Facebook that its units were providing mutual assistance to the Ocean Isle Beach Department to assist with rescue operations.
“Please stay home and stay away from the area,” the department wrote.
The Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation said thousands of homes and businesses lost power.