A devastating tornado struck a major Pfizer pharmaceutical plant in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, causing extensive destruction and scattering medicine and debris throughout the complex.

The powerful twister tore through Nash County, leaving Pfizer’s large facility severely damaged in its wake. The company released a statement addressing the situation, stating, “We are assessing the situation to determine the impact on production. Our thoughts are with our colleagues, our patients, and the community as we rebuild from this weather incident.”

A Pfizer employee who recounted the harrowing experience to ABC11 described how the tornado struck within a brief 60 to 90 seconds, leaving no time to react. He recalled the flickering lights inside the facility, followed by a deafening sound, “like a bomb went off.” Swiftly, he and his group sought safety in a designated area as the chaos unfolded.

Fortunately, there were no reports of serious injuries among the employees. However, the aerial footage revealed extensive damage to the Pfizer facility, particularly in the warehouse area where large quantities of medicine were stored.

The tornado’s path began just west of Nashville, then traveled northeast through Red Oak, crossing I-95 north of US 64 before finally dissipating near Scotland Neck. Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone confirmed the widespread debris and significant damage inflicted on the plant, underscoring the need for rebuilding and recovery efforts in the aftermath of the destructive event.