Three people have been killed and three others hospitalised after a tornado struck the southern Michigan town of Union City on Friday, authorities have confirmed. The Branch County Sheriff's Office reported 12 injuries and three fatalities after the tornado appeared to hit the area, approximately 125 miles west of Detroit.
The storm tore roofs off buildings, including a home improvement store, sent parts of a storage building flying, and knocked down trees. In St Joseph County, bordering Indiana, the sheriff's office urged residents to seek shelter immediately after confirmed reports of a tornado touchdown at around 4.40pm, accompanied by a severe thunderstorm watch and winds exceeding 60mph.
Michigan State Police warned of anticipated power outages, closed roadways, and cellular or internet interruptions. The state activated its emergency operations centre as officials responded to serious wind damage and injuries across multiple south-west Michigan counties.
In a video filmed by resident Lisa Nicola from her back deck near Union City, a ferocious rotating column of air can be seen tearing through buildings across a lake. She exclaims, 'It's lifting houses,' adding, 'Oh my heart is pounding. Oh, I hope they're OK.'
The severe weather also affected other parts of the US. In Oklahoma, a mother and her 13-year-old daughter from Fairview were found dead in a vehicle in a crash that authorities said 'appears to be tornado-related'. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt expressed condolences, stating, 'I am praying for the family as they grieve this tragic loss.'
More than 7 million Americans were at the highest risk of severe weather on Friday, including areas around Kansas City, Tulsa, and Omaha, according to the national Storm Prediction Center. Nearly 25 million faced a slightly lesser risk in zones including Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Milwaukee.
