A tornado broke up parts of Brunswick County, southeastern North Carolina, shortly after midnight, killing at least three people, injuring at least ten more and leaving others trapped in their homes, authorities said. The county sheriff’s office called the damage to many homes “devastating,” especially in the Ocean Ridge plantation area. Authorities said at least 50 homes were affected.
The twister also knocked down power lines, according to WWS-TV, a subsidiary of CBS Wilmington, North Carolina. It was not known how many people were trapped.
The station said the first attendees went from house to house at Ocean Ridge Plantation. Some houses were torn down by their foundations. Many trees were broken in half.
Brunswick County Sheriff John Ingram told a news conference Tuesday that the scene is “something I had never seen before. Lots of destruction. It will be a long recovery process.”
The Wilmington National Weather Service issued a tornado warning very late Monday night, and then said a mess was confirmed near Honey Island, according to WWAY.
The weather service posted some damage on Twitter:
Brunswick County Emergency Management said people were trapped in homes.
The Wilmington Fire Department also took to Twitter:
At 1:00 a.m., Leland Fire Department posted on Facebook that their units were giving each other mutual assistance to the Ocean Isle Beach department to assist in 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 electricity.