3 dead after tornadoes in Tennessee, North Carolina

Three people have died after powerful storms and at least one confirmed tornado struck the southeastern region of the United States on Wednesday, May 8.

Among the victims is 22-year-old Bryce Edward Hentnick, who was killed when a tree fell on his car in the Lone Mountain area of ​​Claiborne County, Tennessee, CBS affiliate WVLT-TV reported.

Another person died after a tornado in Columbia, a city 50 miles south of Nashville, the Associated Press reported.

Residents reported downed power lines and homes ripped off their foundations as the storms swept through the area.

“I stand up and look out and all hell is breaking loose outside,” Columbia resident Bob Booth told the AP. “Then the top half of one of my trees falls across the street.”

Widespread power outages were reported in the northeastern part of the state, while the Federal Aviation Administration issued a temporary ground stop at Nashville airport.

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As the storm system moved further east, one person died near Charlotte, North Carolina when a tree fell on a vehicle, according to CBS affiliate WNCN-TV.

After the violent storms, the area was littered with debris.

“The county sustained extensive storm damage in the western end of the county as well as in the city of Gastonia and several other communities,” Gaston County officials said in a statement posted on Facebook.

According to PowerOutage.us, more than 200,000 customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia are without power due to the storm.

Earlier this week, Oklahoma and parts of the Midwest were affected after tornadoes struck Missouri, Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, according to the AP.