![Tornado rips through Brunswick County, North Carolina. At least 3 dead, 10 injured. [Twitter/Screenshot/Public User ABC News]](https://images.dailycaller.com/image/width=960,height=411,fit=cover,f=auto/https://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Screen-Shot-2021-02-16-at-8.39.06-AM-e1613482796509.png "Tornado rips through Brunswick County, North Carolina. At least 3 dead, 10 injured. [Twitter/Screenshot/Public User ABC News]")
A deadly tornado ripped through Brunswick County in North Carolina, leaving at least three dead and injuring ten others, police said.
“It’s something like I have never seen before,” Brunswick County Sheriff John Ingram said Tuesday during a press conference. “A lot of destruction. It’s going to be a long recovery process.”
More damage from this destructive tornado at Ocean Ridge Planation in Brunswick county. https://t.co/H6KFpm2Aex pic.twitter.com/NPTzYDkysz
— Tanner Barth (@tanner_barth) February 16, 2021
The tornado touched down around 11:50 p.m. in the Seaside Road and Highway 17 area, then crossed the highway and made its way into a rural area, Director of Brunswick County Emergency Services Ed Conrow said during the press conference. Parts of the highway remain closed due to downed power lines, according to police.
Police said that the Ocean Ridge Plantation area took the brunt of the devastation.
“The community of residential homes was impacted, we had several homes that were destroyed, several were severely damaged,” Conrow said Tuesday morning. “Unfortunately, we had 10 injuries that we can report at this time and we had three confirmed fatalities at this time.” (RELATED: Tornado Leaves At Least One Dead, Twenty Injured In Alabama)
Conrow said emergency crews were securing the area and ensuring that there were no risks of gas leaks. He also said that emergency crews would check residences and other buildings that were damaged or destroyed to ensure no one is trapped.
“That search is probably going to take several hours this morning and I expect to go into the afternoon tomorrow,” he said.
The Wilmington Fire Department tweeted it would send rescue crews to help search for missing people.
As of about 1 am, our Regional Response Team (RRT-2) was requested by state EM to respond to Brunswick County to assist with locating missing persons after a tornado hit the area.
.@NHCFR @WilmingtonFD @CityofWilm pic.twitter.com/qFJQi9f5J5— WilmingtonFD (@WilmingtonFD) February 16, 2021
The county has opened a temporary shelter for individuals who have been displaced by the tornado, according to WECT 6.