A tornado has killed 23 people and injured dozens in Mississippi.

Huge storms swept through the American state leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.

Buildings have been reduced to rubble and cars left overturned due to the tornado.

It struck at 6.20am, meaning many were forced to find shelter in the morning darkness.

WTVA meteorologist Matt Laubhan was reporting on the weather live as he saw the tornado pass through the state.

Lost for words, he struggled to pull sentences together as he tried to get across the sheer danger it posed.

‘Dear Jesus, please help them’, Mr Laubhan added as he put his face in his hands.

The National Weather Service issued an alert as the storm was hitting that read: ‘To protect your life, TAKE COVER NOW!’

The damage left behind in Sharkey County, Mississippi (Picture: @SacharBlake/Twitter)

Homes in the tornado’s path have been destroyed (Picture: @MHPTroopD / Twitter)

‘You are in a life-threatening situation,’ it warned.

‘Flying debris may be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes, businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction is possible.’

Rural towns such as Silver City and Rolling Fork reported destruction as the tornado swept northeast at 70 mph without weakening, racing towards Alabama through towns including Winona and Amory into the night.

The damage spans communities over the combined distance of more than 100 miles, authorities say.

Cornel Knight told The Associated Press that he, his wife and their three-year-old daughter were at a relative’s home in Rolling Fork when the tornado struck.

He said the sky was dark but ‘you could see the direction from every transformer that blew’.

He said it was ‘eerily quiet’ as that happened. Mr Knight said he watched from a doorway until the tornado was, he estimated, less than a mile away.

Then he told everyone in the house to take cover in a hallway.

Search efforts are ongoing for those missing (Picture: @MHPTroopD / Twitter)

Many had been sleeping when the tornado’s presence became known (Picture: EPA)

Four people remain missing and the death toll is expected to rise following the tornado.

In a tweet, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency wrote: ‘We can confirm 23 dead, dozens injured, four missing due to last night’s tornadoes.

‘We have numerous local and state search and rescue teams that continue to work this morning. A number of assets are on the ground to assist those that have been impacted.’

The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado caused damage about 60 miles north-east of Jackson, Mississippi.

At least 24 reports of tornadoes were issued to the National Weather Service overnight by storm chasers and observers.

‘Many in the MS Delta need your prayer and God’s protection tonight,’ Governor Tate Reeve said in a tweet.

‘We have activated medical support—surging more ambulances and other emergency assets for those affected. Search and rescue is active.’

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Many people were asleep when the tornado struck and were forced to flee in the darkness.