OCEAN ISLE BEACH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina authorities say an apparent tornado killed three people and injured at least 10 in a coastal community.
Officials say it struck just before midnight Monday in Brunswick County's Ocean Ridge Plantation neighborhood, destroying homes, downing powerlines and snapping trees in half.
Gov. Roy Cooper said dozens of homes were damaged by what he called a “fierce tornado.”
A meteorologist says a National Weather Service crew will be surveying to confirm that a tornado did touch down. He says it was spawned when warm air collided with the cold front bringing ice, snow and subzero temperatures to much of the nation.
Brunswick County Emergency Management says people were trapped in homes.
Brunswick County Sheriff John Ingram said searches for missing people were underway and will increase during the day. He’s asked people to avoid the area while crews work to clear the streets and search for victims.
