Possible tornado slams 2 western NC counties

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The National Weather Service says an apparent tornado ripped through Rutherford and Burke counties in western North Carolina, toppling trees, snapping power lines and causing significant damage to a mobile home park.

Meteorologist Doug Outlaw said the storm first struck in Ellenboro in eastern Rutherford County Wednesday evening. Outlaw said emergency personnel had three people airlifted from the area for medical treatment.

The storm then tracked into eastern Burke County, where Outlaw said a mobile home park was “nearly wiped out.” He said a family was trapped in the basement when the storm toppled their house on top of them.

There was no immediate word of fatalities.

Outlaw said a team would be dispatched from Greer, S.C., on Thursday to assess the damage and determine if a tornado touched down.