Nashville tornado live updates: 9 dead as twister rips through city and suburbs

At least nine people have been killed after a devastating tornado ripped through Nashville early Tuesday, and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee warned there may be more fatalities.

LATEST:

-- Four people were killed in Putnam County, two in Davidson County, two in Wilson County and one in Benton County, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.

-- Many others were injured and dozens of buildings collapsed, authorities said.

-- Some people remain missing.

A woman walks past buildings damaged by a tornado, March 3, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. Mark Humphrey/APA woman walks past buildings damaged by a tornado, March 3, 2020, in Nashville,

Bricks from a collapsed wall of the Geist restaurant litter the ground after a tornado touched down in downtown Nashville, March 3, 2020. Alex Carlson via AP

Bricks from a collapsed wall of the Geist restaurant litter the ground after a tornado touched down in downtown Nashvс

Police cars at the scene where a tornodo touched down in Nashville, Tenn., March 3, 2020. James Duncan/Twitter

East Nashville and the suburb of Mt. Juliet were hit particularly hard.

"Our community has been greatly impacted by a tornado," Capt. Chandler of the Mt. Juliet Police Department said early Tuesday. "There are multiple homes damaged and multiple people injured. Our officers are in the early stages of this response and we continue to assess what is happening ... there are multiple homes damaged, multiple people injured, multiple people still trapped. We need your help."

There are gas lines that are leaking, power lines that are on the ground, and multiple emergency responders are responding to those who are injured and trying to get them the help that they need," Chandler continued.

Damamged vehicles and buildings are seen in East Nashville after a tornado hit the city in the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Courtney Predoza/AP

Damamged vehicles and buildings are seen in East Nashville after a tornado hit the city in the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 3, 2020

A resident makes her way down Underwood St. amidst downed trees and heavy debris on March 3, 2020 in Nashville, Tenn. A tornado passed through Nashville just after midnight leaving a wake of damage. Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

The tornado reportedly stayed on the ground for about 10 miles into Hermitage, Tennessee.

The Five Points neighborhood in East Nashville is half-destroyed, according to ABC News' Nashville affiliate WKRN.

"It’s like driving through a war zone," tweeted WKRN reporter Brent Remadna. "Cars destroyed, buildings destroyed...breaks my heart."

"This is absolutely devastating. It sounded like a freight train," tweeted WKRN reporter Julia Palazzo.

In West Nashville there were reports of heavy damage to planes as well as overturned tractor-trailers across interstates, according to WKRN.

Fifty-thousand customers are without power, officials said.

Some Super Tuesday polling stations may also have been impacted by the tornado, WKRN reported.

Fifteen polling places will have an alternative location for voters and that list will be released, officials said.

MORE: Tips on how to stay safe from a tornado

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee called the loss of life and damage "heartbreaking."

Nashville Mayor John Cooper urged residents to avoid driving Tuesday to help the recovery efforts move more quickly.

All metropolitan Nashville schools are closed on Tuesday.

The destruction came amid an outbreak of twisters in Tennessee, Missouri and Kentucky.