MISSISSIPPI — Powerful storms that included at least one confirmed tornado tore through central and western Mississippi on Wednesday, damaging hundreds of homes and injuring at least 17 people. There were no immediate reports of deaths.

Twelve of the injured were transported from the Wash Trailer Park in Bogue Chitto in Lincoln County, which was severely damaged. Minor injuries were reported in Lamar and Franklin counties. A one-year-old child was reported missing after the storms hit, and falling trees split a car and trapped people at a mobile home park in Bogue Chitto.

A "very large and dangerous tornado" moved from eastern Lincoln County into Lawrence County. Supercell storms spawned tornadoes in Purvis, just south of Hattiesburg, just south of Brookhaven, and in Bogue Chitto. At least 14 tornadoes were reported, authorities said, with one confirmed.

Governor Tate Reeves said multiple tornadoes were reported throughout the central and western parts of the state and that the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency was coordinating response efforts. Reeves posted online, "Pray for Mississippi."

Nearly 500 homes were damaged, and early estimates by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency indicate that more than 1,000 homes and other buildings were damaged overall. About 815 buildings were damaged in Franklin and Lincoln counties alone, said Scott Simmons, Chief Communications Officer for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. By early Thursday, about 20,000 customers were without power, according to PowerOutage.us.

All southbound lanes of Interstate 55 in Lincoln County were shut down for several hours due to debris on the ground. The Lincoln County Emergency Management Department said the severe weather caused major damage and several injuries but no deaths, and asked people to refrain from sightseeing on blocked roads as crews worked to clear damage.

Members of Coaltown Baptist Church in Purvis huddled together in a hallway and prayed and sang "Amazing Grace" as the tornado ripped off the roof over them. The fellowship hall was destroyed and two other church buildings were flattened. "Just total devastation," Pastor Jimmy Breazeale said.

In Tylertown, a fire completely engulfed a home after witnesses said it was struck by lightning. More storms were expected on Thursday with possible tornadoes across parts of Alabama, Georgia and Florida and strong storms possible in parts of the Carolinas and Texas.