Tornado Hits Tennessee; Death Toll up to 22

Two tornadoes have struck central Tennessee early on Tuesday morning. One of the tornadoes caused significant damage near downtown Nashville and killed several people. Fox News reported that the tornado near downtown Nashville “lit up the night sky with flashes of light as transformers blew and the storm reportedly stayed on the ground into Hermitage, about 10 miles east of the city.”

“They need your prayers in Nashville, Tennessee,” Fox News Senior Meteorologist Janice Dean said on “Fox & Friends.” “This was an overnight, rain-wrapped tornado while people were sleeping and now they are waking up to extreme destruction, devastation and deaths in the Nashville area.”

It has been confirmed that at least 21 people were killed in the storms. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee told reporters during an earlier press briefing that the deaths were centered in four different counties and there are a “number of people that are missing” in addition to those who were injured. “We have had loss of life all across the state,” Lee said. “It's a very difficult situation.”

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According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, at least 2 people were killed in East Nashville. According to a TEMA official, 14 people died in Putnam County. There were 2 reported deaths in Wilson County, 2 in Davidson County which includes that area of East Nashville, and 1 in Benton County, TEMA said.

A recent update by The Associated Press, however, reported that the death toll jumped to 22 “as first responders gingerly pulled apart the wreckage, hoping to find people alive in the rubble of their homes.”

Police officers and fire crews were responding to around 48 building collapses. Search and rescue crews were searching for any injured people inside collapsed buildings.

“Last night was a reminder about how fragile life is,” Nashville Mayor John Cooper said. President Trump tweeted that they will continue to monitor the developments: “Prayers for all of those affected by the devastating tornadoes in Tennessee. We will continue to monitor the developments. The Federal Government is with you all of the way during this difficult time.”