Severe storms claim four lives, leave a dozen hurt in Michigan

Friday brought devastating tornadoes to the midwestern US state of Michigan, resulting in the loss of four lives and injuring a minimum of a dozen individuals, as reported by US media outlets.

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A tornado striking near Union City in southern Michigan claimed three lives and left 12 people injured, according to a statement from the Branch County Sheriff’s Office that was cited by multiple media sources.

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Approximately 50 miles west, Cass County officials reported one fatality and several injuries after a tornado made landfall in the area, causing widespread damage.

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The Branch County Sheriff’s Office expressed sympathy for those affected by the disaster, stating that their thoughts were with individuals who had lost loved ones, friends, and property during the incident.

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In Cass County, numerous trees fell onto roads and buildings, and over 500 people were left without power, prompting a response from local authorities.

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As part of the emergency response, the Cass County sheriff’s office announced that Emergency Management personnel would conduct damage assessments in the affected areas, as mandated by the state of Michigan.

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Moving to address the crisis, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced on Friday evening that she would be activating the state's emergency operations centre to coordinate a comprehensive response to the severe weather in southwestern Michigan.

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Governor Whitmer took to social media platform X to express her gratitude to first responders, praising their swift action in keeping Michiganders safe, and reaffirming her commitment to supporting those impacted by the severe weather.