5 injured when tornado damages Alabama Wal-Mart

AP

TROY, Ala. (AP) — A tornado injured five people and damaged a Wal-Mart shopping center in southeast Alabama.

Multiple media outlets report that a strong storm cell on Thursday night passed through Troy, about 50 miles southeast of Montgomery.

Friday morning, a damage survey team from the National Weather Service confirmed it was a tornado that hit the Wal-Mart. The team is still determining the tornado's wind speed and rating.

Troy Fire Department Chief Thomas Outlaw tells the Troy Messenger (http://bit.ly/1gOPqc8 ) that initial reports indicated no serious injuries.

Wal-Mart customers and employees say that the store's roof partially collapsed, sending shoppers scurrying for shelter. A nearby sports outlet store suffered moderate damage too. An 18-wheel truck was also overturned during the storm.

Troy Mayor Jason Reeves says the community is fortunate that no one appears to have been seriously injured.

The weather service issued a tornado warning for Pike County around 10:45 p.m. after radar indicated rotation in the thunderstorm.

Contributing: Doyle Rice, USA TODAY