More than a dozen people, two seriously, were injured in a tornado that ripped through Nash and Edgecombe counties in North Carolina on Wednesday. Many buildings, including houses, were destroyed. Some of them were leveled to the ground by the element.
According to local media, the tornado appeared on Wednesday at noon local time, covering a distance of more than 30 kilometers. The tornado first passed through the town of Dortches in Nash County and ended its journey near Battleboro in neighboring Edgecombe County.
At least 16 people were injured. Nash County officials said more than a dozen people suffered minor injuries. The Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office said three people were injured there, two with life-threatening injuries. There is no information on fatalities.
Destroyed and damaged buildings
One of the recordings captured the moment when the tornado passed near the house.
In the video recorded in Dortches, the elemental force rips off the roof and throws various objects into the air.
North Carolina: A tornado rips the roof off a houseReuters, Claudius R. Brewer/TMX
There are no reports from local media that the house suffered other major damage other than a torn roof. Some other buildings, including houses, were razed to the ground. Nash County officials reported at least 89 damaged structures.
A Pfizer factory in Rocky Mount, located on the county border, was severely damaged. The company said in a statement that there were no reports of injured people at the plant.
Over 240 kilometers per hour
The element generated winds with a peak speed of over 240 kilometers per hour, the US National Weather Service (NWS) reported on social media. It was the first EF-3 tornado recorded in central North Carolina in July, she added.
Reuters, CNN, tvnmeteo.pl
Main photo source: Reuters, Claudius R. Brewer/TMX