Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas floods leave 18 people dead

At least 18 people have been killed in to fierce storms and floods in Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas in the United States.

With more severe weather expected across the central US, forecasters are warning of airport delays and flooded roads as travellers return home after the Christmas holiday. US National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for 10 states in the country.

In Alabama, where Governor Robert Bentley has declared a state of emergency to deal with the heavy flooding, tornadoes uprooted trees and tore off rooftops, with one touching down in Birmingham, the state's most populous city.

Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant and Georgia counterpart Nathan Deal have also declared states of emergency in the affected counties.

 

In Mississippi alone, 10 people were confirmed dead and 60 others injured by the state emergency management agency yesterday.

According to the fire department in Columbia, six fatalities were confirmed in Tennessee while another person was killed in Arkansas.