A massive tornado outbreak, which began Friday evening, devastated parts of the South and Midwest

leaving at least 18 dead, and adding to the chaos, Mississippi has now been struck by an earthquake, worsening an already catastrophic situation for residents of the affected areas.

The deadly tornado outbreak swept across the South and Midwest with alarming speed, causing significant damage in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama.

What started as an ordinary storm system quickly intensified, with the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issuing their highest warning level for the possibility of EF4 tornadoes. Early on Saturday morning, several tornadoes touched down in Arkansas and Missouri, before barreling southward into Mississippi and Alabama.

Mississippi, in particular, bore the brunt of the powerful storm system, with the National Weather Service issuing a rare Tornado Emergency for Taylorsville, Mississippi, as storm conditions grew increasingly dangerous. In total, over a dozen tornadoes were reported across Mississippi and Alabama on Saturday alone, and the region experienced some of the most destructive weather in years.

Walthall County, Mississippi, saw some of the most severe damage, with at least two powerful tornadoes hitting the area within a 45-minute window. Initial assessments from the National Weather Service suggest that the tornadoes in this area reached EF3 strength, with winds reaching up to 165 mph. The devastation was widespread, and as of Saturday afternoon, at least three fatalities were confirmed in Tylertown, Mississippi, although rescue teams have warned that the number of deaths may rise as they continue searching through the wreckage. As debris is cleared and officials assess the destruction, it’s expected that more details about the scope of the damage will come to light.