Four killed as tornadoes and powerful storms leave trail of destruction

Four people have been killed in southern Michigan as tornadoes and strong storms left a trail of destruction.

The storms destroyed multiple homes and left hundreds of residents without power. 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 whirlwinds tearing off roofs and scattering debris.

Footage also showed battered buildings ⁠and cars, trees and road signs that had been blown ​over. Three people were killed and 12 injured after an apparent tornado hit in the Union Lake area, according to the Branch County Sheriff's Office.

About 50 miles (80km) southwest, Cass County officials reported one death and several injuries after a tornado swept through. At least one tornado was confirmed in southern Michigan, near Union City, on Friday, the National Weather Service said, and there were reports of possible others.

In video taken on Thursday, a first responder drove directly at a storm near the western Oklahoma town of Fairview, where lightning illuminated a large funnel that appeared to reach the ground. Read more from Sky News:Asif Merchant: Man convicted of planning to kill TrumpBritney Spears seen driving 'erratically' before arrest, say police Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said ​on Friday she had activated a State Emergency Operations Center for monitoring ​the situation.

"It's sounding like the local response is and ⁠has ​been able to address what's been a very ​devastating afternoon and evening in southwest Michigan," said Clayton Cummins, a spokesperson for Michigan emergency services and ​police. The spring storms come near the beginning of what many call tornado season..