At least fourteen people have died and multiple others have been hurt in several large tornadoes that have lashed parts of Alabama and Georgia, tearing off roofs and trees and leaving a grim trail of destruction in two counties.
An 8-year-old girl and at least thirteen other people have fallen victim to a tornado that swept through Lee County, Alabama, on Sunday, the county sheriff has confirmed. He did not specify the manner and circumstances of their death.
Several tornadoes descended on Alabama and Georgia, causing extensive damage to houses and infrastructure and leaving some 35,000 people in both states without power.
Smith Station and Beauregard, both in Lee County, and Talbotton, in Talbot County, Georgia, were the hardest-hit, with photos on social media showing debris from houses scattered everywhere and uprooted trees blocking roads. Some of the homes and businesses appeared to have been razed to the ground, while others have been seriously damaged.
Large-scale search and rescue operations have been launched in Lee County, where officials reported multiple injuries.