Photos show the devastation caused by the deadly Mississippi tornado

Emergency responders are digging out after a rare, long-lasting tornado tore through western Mississippi Friday night, killing at least 26 people and leaving a trail of destruction behind.

The tornado — which landed in Rolling Fork around 8 p.m. local time and then plowed through nearby towns including Silver City, Black Hawk and Winona — lasted for more than an hour, which a federal meteorologist called "very rare."

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves issued a state of emergency for all the counties affected by the severe weather.

Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.