The South Carolina Highway Patrol is reporting “significant damage” from a potential tornado within the city limits of Bamberg, 60 miles south of Columbia, according to Lance Cpl. Brittany Glover.
The “fast-moving” storm caused the Old City Hall to collapse, according to Robin Chavis, the city clerk-treasurer. The century-old building was unoccupied when it suffered the damage.
First responders are working on a plan to clear roads and debris from the affected area, according to Chavis.
In downtown Bamberg, a stretch of businesses experienced significant damage, including an antique store that partially collapsed, according to Glover. Pictures show the roof torn off with bricks blown all over the roadway.
A large portion of South Carolina Oak to Barrel, a wine and whiskey barrel manufacturer, also collapsed on Main Street, according to Glover. A picture she took of the damage shows rows of oak barrels exposed to the elements.
A tree also fell on top of an empty house in Bamberg, Glover said.
Glover says there were no reports of injuries as of Tuesday afternoon.
Highway 301 is currently blocked in the city’s downtown area, as the Department of Transportation is working to set up a detour, Glover said.
“We will be sending a survey crew out to Bamberg tomorrow to get details on the potential tornado that touched down this afternoon,” said the National Weather Service in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
