Tornado hits Alabama Lee County, At least 23 dead

The death toll has jumped to 23 and could go higher after at least two tornadoes hit southern Lee County Sunday afternoon, according to Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones.

The sheriff said people are still reported missing, and a more organized search will be conducted in the morning.

“We’ve done everything we feel like we can do this evening. The area is just very, very hazardous to put anybody in to at this point in time – debris everywhere and it’s just…just some mass damage to structures and residences in the area,” Jones said.

He didn’t give any details about the locations or exact circumstances of the deaths.

Lee County Coroner Bill Harris said the victims range in age from children to older adults.

Family members on the scene identified one of the victims as an 8-year-old girl.

It’s unclear how many people are injured. Sunday afternoon, East Alabama Medical Center said it had received more than 40 patients as a result of the tornado and more were expected. Some of the patients were sent to surrounding hospitals. EAMC officials said elective procedures at the hospital for Monday have been cancelled.