Official: Big tornado in Miss., several injuries

TUPELO, Miss. (AP) — A northern Mississippi mayor says several injuries are being reported in the city of Tupelo after a large tornado damaged homes and down trees and power lines.

Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton says none of the injuries are apparently life-threatening. Shelton says dozens of homes and businesses have been damaged. He called the damage extensive.

Bruce Ridgeway, vice president at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, says the hospital received six people with non-life-threatening injuries.

The National Weather Service reported another large tornado hit elsewhere in north-central Mississippi's Winston County. There were no immediate reports of injuries there.

Gov. Phil Bryant had declared a state of emergency Monday in advance of expected storms that forecasters have warned could trigger tornadoes, heavy downpours, damaging hail and flash floods.