Storms, tornadoes batter US South

HOUSTON: Intense storms spawning dozens of tornadoes tore through large swathes of the US South leaving at least two people dead, knocking out power and damaging several homes, authorities said yesterday.

Fierce winds, heavy rain and hail threatened millions of Americans across eight states from Texas to Georgia from Tuesday, with tornado warnings forcing residents to seek shelter. In Alabama, two people died yesterday, an official said.

At least 36 tornadoes in all were touching down in the Gulf coast states of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, while dangerous wind and hail were also reported in Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Georgia.