Storms kill at least 27 in central US

Tornadoes and violent spring thunderstorms raked sections of the central US on Sunday killing at least 27 people.

Northwestern Tennessee was the hardest hit area, with 23 confirmed deaths in two counties, according to Donnie Smith, an official with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.

He said the death toll was likely to rise. Police were making aerial surveys by helicopter to search for further damage.

Power was out in a large area "and this will become a significant problem" as rescue efforts continue, he said. There were dozens of injuries, and 17 people were in critical condition.

"Most of those who were killed died in their homes," Mr Smith said, when the storms struck after nightfall on Sunday evening. Hundreds of home and businesses were destroyed or damaged in or around the towns of Bradford and Dyersburg, he added.