Tornadoes and storms have killed 45 people in Alabama, bringing the total dead in storms and flooding across the southern states of the US to at least 70 people in a 24-hour period.
The BBC reports that a huge twister levelled parts of the Alabama city of Tuscaloosa, killing at least 15, as the storms caused havoc from Texas to Georgia.
Six fatalities were reported in Marshall County and the Sheriff's Office says every community in the county has suffered damage.
In Mississipi, 11 people are reported to have been killed.
President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency for Alabama and ordered federal aid for the stricken state, Reuters reports.
"While we may not know the extent of the damage for days, we will continue to monitor these severe storms across the country and stand ready to continue to help the people of Alabama and all citizens affected by these storms," the President said in a statement on Wednesday.
Earlier, the governors of Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee each declared a state of emergency as a result of the newest round of heavy winds, rains and tornadoes.
Floods are a particular concern in the south because rain and melted snow are causing rivers to rise.
