Three people killed and three hospitalized as Michigan town hit by tornado

Roofs torn off and trees knocked down in Union City as more than 7m Americans at risk of severe weather

Three people have been killed and three were taken to a hospital after a tornado hit a southern Michigan town on Friday, authorities said.

Powerful storms ripped across the state, tearing the roof off a home improvement store, sending parts of a storage building flying and knocking down trees as warnings were issued across the southern part of the state.

The Branch county sheriff’s office said there were 12 reported injuries and three deaths after a tornado appeared to have hit the Union City area which is about 125 miles (200km) west of Detroit.

In St Joseph county, Michigan, next to the Indiana border, the sheriff’s office told residents to “seek shelter immediately” after confirmed reports of a tornado touching down in Union City about 4.40pm, a severe thunderstorm watch and possible winds more than 60mph (96.6km/h).