‘Powerful’ tornado damages buildings and uproots trees in Alabama

National Weather Service warned of “large and extremely dangerous tornado”

A “powerful” tornado that struck the city of Selma, Alabama, on Thursday damaged dozens of buildings and uprooted trees, officials say.

The “large and extremely dangerous tornado” hit Selma at 12.19pm CT (1.19pm ET), according to the National Weather Service, and was one of more than a dozen twisters reported as a major storm swept through the south.

Mayor James Perkins said the city had sustained “significant damage” in a Facebook post.

“Please refrain from traveling the roadways and stay away from down power lines,” Mr Perkins said.

Footage posted to social media showed a swirling storm system descend on the city, bringing wind gusts of up to 70 mph (113kms) and hail the size of quarters.

Roofs had been torn from homes, and large piles of debris blocked roads, while downed power lines brought outages across the city, according to a CNN report.

Moments ago as the Alabama tornado moved north of Prattville and across Interstate 65 #alwx pic.twitter.com/VTcfyLDdXd

— Steve Glazier (@SteveGlazier) January 12, 2023

Flights from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport were briefly suspended due to the storms.

One person was reported trapped in a building, and another was missing, Mr Perkins told WSFA.

Hank Sanders, a former state senator, told the Associated Press there was damage “all over Selma.”

The tornado had blown out windows in the bedroom and living room of his Selma home, he said.

A building in Selma was destroyed by a tornado on Thursday (Associated Press)

“It is raining through the roof in the kitchen,” Mr Sanders said.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said “our hearts and thoughts go out to the Selma community,” during a media briefing on Thursday afternoon.

The weather service issued multiple tornado warnings in Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee on Thursday.

More than 35 million people were under storm warnings, according to the Storm Prediction Center.