Tornadoes kill four, injure more than a dozen in rural Michigan

Tornadoes and strong storms killed at least four people and injured more than a dozen in southern Michigan on Friday, destroying multiple homes ​and leaving hundreds of residents without power, local authorities said.



Soon after the National Weather Service issued tornado warnings for the area on Friday, videos on social media claiming to be from the towns of Three Rivers and Union City showed massive whirlwinds tearing roofs off buildings and lifting debris into the air.



Local media footage showed smashed buildings and cars, and poles, trees and road signs that had been blown over.



Three fatalities and a dozen injuries were reported in Branch County, where Union City is located, the county's sheriff's office said.



One person was killed and several injured in Cass County, according to local authorities there.



"Multiple large structures - including homes and pole barns - sustained damage ranging from major structural impacts to complete destruction," according to a statement on a website for Cass County.



Power outages had affected hundreds of people, local officials said.



Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said she activated a State Emergency Operations Center for monitoring the situation.