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Tornadoes unleashed by thunderstorms along the US Gulf Coast ripped through south-eastern Mississippi on Tuesday, killing at least four people, injuring numerous others and causing extensive damage to homes and businesses, authorities said.
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One of the heaviest hit areas was a commercial district along the US Highway 98 bypass in the town of Columbia in Marion county, about 30 miles (48km) west of Hattiesburg, said state emergency management spokesman Greg Flynn.
One woman was killed in a shopping centre and another in a nearby trailer home, according to county coroner Norma Williamson.
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Two more storm-related fatalities were confirmed in Jones county to the north-east, and both victims there were believed to have died in their homes, county emergency management spokeswoman Tammy Wells said.
Flynn said numerous people were known to have been hurt in both counties, some seriously.
He described property damage in Marion county as “massive” including homes and businesses, as well as vehicles flipped over by the storm, which struck at about 2.30pm local time. Damage also was reported in Jones county which was struck about an hour later, he said.
Flynn said the twisters were spawned by thunderstorms in the region, and that severe weather was moving into north-western Alabama, followed by a wave of heavy showers that were expected to dump four or five inches (100-150mm) of rain in some areas.
