Authorities in the US have confirmed that at least 22 people have been killed in Lee County, Alabama, following an apparent tornado.
According to reports in the US media, the vast majority of the deaths occurred after a storm system sent a series of tornadoes across the southeast of the state on Sunday.
It is believed that a number of homes and businesses have been destroyed by the tornados which reportedly had wind speeds of 266km/h.
Although the exact number casualties is unknown, authorities say they fear the number could rise as dozens more people have been injured during the tornado.