At least 23 people, including a six year old boy, have been killed as tornadoes struck Lee County in eastern Alabama, authorities say.

County Sheriff Jay Jones said there had been "catastrophic" damage and there were fears more bodies would be found. Dozens are thought to have been hurt.

Rescue efforts have been halted until dawn due to the danger of searching in the dark.

The most devastating tornadoes struck the area around Beauregard, carving a path at least half a mile (0.8km) wide.

The National Weather Service (NWS) made a classification of at least EF-3 - meaning winds of up to 165mph (266km/h).

It warned people to "stay out of damaged areas so first responders could do their job".

Where have the tornadoes struck?

The area around Beauregard, about 60 miles (95km) east of Alabama's state capital, Montgomery, appears to have borne the brunt. The tornadoes there struck at about 14:00 (20:00 GMT) on Sunday.

Footage showed snapped poles, roads littered with debris and houses without roofs.

Sheriff Jones said some homes had been reduced to slabs. Authorities fear the death toll could rise.

Local resident Scott Fillmer said: "Everything just kind of went dark, when it was almost like night outside. And it's that old cliché that it sounds like a freight train coming, well that's what it sounded like."

Residents of Smiths Station told local TV they had seen businesses destroyed there. A large bar called the Buck Wild Saloon had had its roof torn off.

Sheriff Jones said: "The challenge is the sheer volume of the debris where all the homes were located. It's the most I've seen that I can recall."

Tornado warnings were also issued for Georgia, Florida and South Carolina. Footage showed smashed buildings and snapped trees in Talbotton, about 80 miles south of Atlanta.

Tornadoes were also reported in Walton County and Cairo in northern Florida.

What do we know about the casualties?

All of the deaths so far have been in Lee County. Authorities say they are still working to identify the victims and the injured.

One of the dead in Beauregard was an eight year old, family members said.

"We've never had a mass fatality situation, that I can remember, like this in my lifetime," Lee County coroner Bill Harris said.

He said on Sunday evening: "We've still got people being pulled out of rubble. We're going to be here all night."

Alabama meteorologist Eric Snitil tweeted that there were more deaths in Lee County in one day due to a tornado than in the entirety of the US in 2018.

East Alabama Medical Center said it was treating more than 40 people injured by the extreme weather, and was expecting more.

The National Weather Service said it would send three survey teams to assess the damage caused by tornadoes across Alabama on Monday.

The extreme weather also tore down trees and destroyed homes in western Georgia.


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Photos: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6767189/The-Latest-Official-2-dead-hurt-apparent-tornado.html

Six-year-old Armando Hernandez has been identified as one of the 23 people who were killed by the tornadoes that hit Alabama on Sunday. He reportedly became separated from his mother in Beauregard when a tornado touched down.

A saloon (pictured below) had its roof blown off.

Tornadoes spotted in Alabama and Florida, plus more scenes of devastation.

Even the Fire Service could not escape the damage. Also pictured is a small airfield in turmoil.

Trump took to Twitter to address the nation.

Oboy ye with the kind poverty wey this state they face, Tornado still strike them join

Even if tornadoes destroy them a thousand times, they will still rebuild it before a road is completed in Nigeria

Bet me

With the current state of Nigeria and the kind of leaders we have. If tornadoes, tsunamis or earthquakes were common. By now everywhere will be in shambles. As in dustbin nation.. Everywhere scata scata.

Pple wey dy use 1 week repair road. Use 3 yrs build skyscraper

Cletus77:
Even if tornadoes destroy them a thousand times, they will still rebuild it before a road is completed in Nigeria

Bet me

Na true nah.

New aerial shots have been released of Lee County, Alabama.

Credit: Daily Mail.

Every tragedy has a human cost. The storm took Carol's 53-year-old husband, David, known by friends as 'Road-dog daddy' for his motorcycle love. Her son comforts her amid the destruction.

Lower picture: Another scene of devastation.

Imagine if such disasters landed on Nigeria? We are blessed in that respect, just a shame we aren't in others.