A tornado that struck the city of Alabama caused massive destruction, killing one and injuring more than 20 people.

WION Fineprint: A tornado tore through an Alabama city destroying homes

US President Donald Trump on Friday visited communities in eastern Alabama devastated by tornadoes that tore through homes and businesses, killing 23 people.

Trump and his wife Melania Trump took a helicopter tour of the area before going to the homes of some victims in the tiny and especially hard-hit community of Beauregard, near the border with Georgia.

Their motorcade passed trees knocked down like kindling and homes scattered in pieces.

"This is unbelievable," Trump said as he and Alabama Governor Kay Ivey surveyed the devastation. He said he had seen "unbelievable" destruction from the air, too.

Relatives of one victim, Marshall Lynn Grimes, showed the president the 59-year-old's cherished motorcycle vest and Bible. Trump hugged members of the family.

The president and Melania Trump then visited a disaster relief center at the Providence Baptist Church in Opelika, the county seat, to meet with survivors, volunteers, and first responders.

Tables at the church were piled high with donated clothes, toiletries and other items. Twenty-three crosses were set up on a lawn outside.

Trump met privately with more victims' families inside the church. He said he talked with one woman who lost 10 people in the storm.

"I said how did it go, and she said I lost 10," Trump said. "I've never seen anything like it."

He told dozens of community volunteers gathered in the church auditorium that the first responders were doing an "A-plus job."

"We're gonna take care," Trump said. "We couldn't get here fast enough ... I wanted to come the day it happened."

He also signed Bibles brought by some of the volunteers.

Sunday's tornadoes were the deadliest to hit the state since 2013. All 23 victims, including four children and seven members of one family, were killed in or around Beauregard, in rural Lee County about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Auburn.

Dozens of people were injured and about 100 houses were destroyed by 170 mile-per-hour (264 km-per-hour) winds, officials said.

Mobile homes were tossed over and ripped open, their contents strewn across a landscape littered with debris and uprooted trees. In some places, shreds of houses had hung from the limbs of the few trees left standing.

The worst of the twisters, stirred up by a late-winter "supercell" thunderstorm, were ranked by forecasters at step four of the six-step Enhanced Fujita scale of tornado strength.

It was the greatest loss of life from a tornado since an EF-5 storm ripped through Moore, Oklahoma, in May 2013, killing 24 people and injuring 375 others.

US President Donald Trump on Friday visited communities in eastern Alabama devastated by tornadoes that tore through homes and businesses, killing 23 people. Trump and his wife Melania Trump took a helicopter tour of the area before going to the homes of some victims in the tiny and especially hard-hit community of Beauregard, near the border with Georgia.

US President Donald Trump on Friday visited communities in eastern Alabama devastated by tornadoes that tore through homes and businesses, killing 23 people. Trump and his wife Melania Trump took a helicopter tour of the area before going to the homes of some victims in the tiny and especially hard-hit community of Beauregard, near the border with Georgia. Their motorcade passed trees knocked down like kindling and homes scattered in pieces. "This is unbelievable," Trump said as he and Alabama Governor Kay Ivey surveyed the devastation. He said he had seen "unbelievable" destruction from the air, too. Relatives of one victim, Marshall Lynn Grimes, showed the president the 59-year-old's cherished motorcycle vest and Bible. Trump hugged members of the family. The president and Melania Trump then visited a disaster relief center at the Providence Baptist Church in Opelika, the county seat, to meet with survivors, volunteers, and first responders. Tables at the church were piled high with donated clothes, toiletries and other items. Twenty-three crosses were set up on a lawn outside. Trump met privately with more victims' families inside the church. He said he talked with one woman who lost 10 people in the storm. "I said how did it go, and she said I lost 10," Trump said. "I've never seen anything like it." He told dozens of community volunteers gathered in the church auditorium that the first responders were doing an "A-plus job." "We're gonna take care," Trump said. "We couldn't get here fast enough ... I wanted to come the day it happened." He also signed Bibles brought by some of the volunteers. Sunday's tornadoes were the deadliest to hit the state since 2013. All 23 victims, including four children and seven members of one family, were killed in or around Beauregard, in rural Lee County about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Auburn. Dozens of people were injured and about 100 houses were destroyed by 170 mile-per-hour (264 km-per-hour) winds, officials said. Mobile homes were tossed over and ripped open, their contents strewn across a landscape littered with debris and uprooted trees. In some places, shreds of houses had hung from the limbs of the few trees left standing. The worst of the twisters, stirred up by a late-winter "supercell" thunderstorm, were ranked by forecasters at step four of the six-step Enhanced Fujita scale of tornado strength. It was the greatest loss of life from a tornado since an EF-5 storm ripped through Moore, Oklahoma, in May 2013, killing 24 people and injuring 375 others.

Trump sees 'unbelievable' tornado damage in Alabama visit

At least 22 people, some of them children, died after a tornado swept through Lee County, Alabama on Sunday, and the death toll was expected to rise as rescuers searched through the rubble of destroyed homes, authorities and media said.

Emergency workers faced a grim night of pulling the dead and injured from the wreckage of homes and businesses.

"The challenge is the sheer volume of the debris where all the homes were located," Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said in an interview with CNN. "It's the most I've seen that I can recall."

Storms, including at least one apparent tornado, uprooted trees and destroyed homes in neighbouring Georgia, initially knocking out power to 21,000 customers, said Georgia Power spokeswoman Meredith Stone.

On Twitter, US President Donald Trump urged residents of Alabama and other areas affected by the storms to be "careful and safe."

"Tornadoes and storms were truly violent and more could be coming," Trump wrote. "To the families and friends of the victims, and to the injured, God bless you all!"

In Alabama, Lee County Coroner Bill Harris said the death toll could rise.

"We've still got people being pulled out of the rubble," he told the Birmingham News newspaper early on Sunday evening. "We're going to be here all night."

The East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika said in a statement that it was treating more than 40 patients as a result of the tornado and expected to receive more. Some patients had been sent to other hospitals, it added.

Cold weather warning

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey warned residents on Twitter that more severe weather might be on the way.

A state of emergency for Alabama, issued on February 23 to deal with flooding, would be extended, she said.

"Our hearts go out to those who lost their lives in the storms that hit Lee County today," Ivey wrote. "Praying for their families &amp; everyone whose homes or businesses were affected."

Lee County Schools announced on Twitter that campuses in the county would be closed on Monday.

The National Weather Service office in Birmingham, Alabama, said it was sending three survey teams out on Monday to assess damage in Autauga, Macon, Lee and Barbour counties.

"Please stay out of damaged areas so first responders can do their job," the NWS office said on Twitter.

The storm initially left 17,000 customers without power in Alabama, but crews were able to reduce that number to 6,000 by about 9 p.m. EST on Sunday, said Michael Sznajderman, spokesman for the utility Alabama Power.

As thousands faced a night without power, temperatures looked set to fall to near freezing following the storm.

"Colder air will sweep into the Southeast behind the severe weather with temperatures dropping into the 30s (1 C) southward to central Georgia and across most of Alabama by Monday morning," AccuWeather meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said.

"Those without power who rely on electric heat need to find ways to stay warm," she added.

At least 22 people, some of them children, died after a tornado swept through Lee County, Alabama on Sunday, and the death toll was expected to rise as rescuers searched through the rubble of destroyed homes, authorities and media said.

At least 22 people, some of them children, died after a tornado swept through Lee County, Alabama on Sunday, and the death toll was expected to rise as rescuers searched through the rubble of destroyed homes, authorities and media said. Emergency workers faced a grim night of pulling the dead and injured from the wreckage of homes and businesses. "The challenge is the sheer volume of the debris where all the homes were located," Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said in an interview with CNN. "It's the most I've seen that I can recall." Storms, including at least one apparent tornado, uprooted trees and destroyed homes in neighbouring Georgia, initially knocking out power to 21,000 customers, said Georgia Power spokeswoman Meredith Stone. On Twitter, US President Donald Trump urged residents of Alabama and other areas affected by the storms to be "careful and safe." "Tornadoes and storms were truly violent and more could be coming," Trump wrote. "To the families and friends of the victims, and to the injured, God bless you all!" In Alabama, Lee County Coroner Bill Harris said the death toll could rise. "We've still got people being pulled out of the rubble," he told the Birmingham News newspaper early on Sunday evening. "We're going to be here all night." The East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika said in a statement that it was treating more than 40 patients as a result of the tornado and expected to receive more. Some patients had been sent to other hospitals, it added. Cold weather warning Alabama Governor Kay Ivey warned residents on Twitter that more severe weather might be on the way. A state of emergency for Alabama, issued on February 23 to deal with flooding, would be extended, she said. "Our hearts go out to those who lost their lives in the storms that hit Lee County today," Ivey wrote. "Praying for their families & everyone whose homes or businesses were affected." Lee County Schools announced on Twitter that campuses in the county would be closed on Monday. The National Weather Service office in Birmingham, Alabama, said it was sending three survey teams out on Monday to assess damage in Autauga, Macon, Lee and Barbour counties. "Please stay out of damaged areas so first responders can do their job," the NWS office said on Twitter. The storm initially left 17,000 customers without power in Alabama, but crews were able to reduce that number to 6,000 by about 9 p.m. EST on Sunday, said Michael Sznajderman, spokesman for the utility Alabama Power. As thousands faced a night without power, temperatures looked set to fall to near freezing following the storm. "Colder air will sweep into the Southeast behind the severe weather with temperatures dropping into the 30s (1 C) southward to central Georgia and across most of Alabama by Monday morning," AccuWeather meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said. "Those without power who rely on electric heat need to find ways to stay warm," she added.

At least 22 dead in Alabama tornado, toll expected to rise: Report

At least fourteen dead in Alabama tornado

At least fourteen people, some of them children, died after a tornado swept through Lee County, Alabama on Sunday, destroying numerous homes and leaving a death toll that could rise as rescuers sift through the rubble, Sheriff Jay Jones said.

Emergency workers were expected to toil through the night, pulling bodies and the injured out of the wreckage of destroyed homes and businesses.

"The challenge is the sheer volume of the debris where all the homes were located," Jones said in an interview with CNN. "It's the most I've seen that I can recall."

Lee County Coroner Bill Harris said the death toll could rise.

"We've still got people being pulled out of rubble," he told the Birmingham News newspaper early on Sunday evening. "We're going to be here all night."

The East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika said in a statement that it was treating more than 40 patients as a result of the tornado and expects to receive more. Some patients have been sent to other hospitals, it added.

Severe weather unleashed one of numerous possible tornadoes that threatened the Southern United States on Sunday afternoon. Tornado warnings and watches were in effect for parts of Georgia and Alabama through Sunday evening.

Video footage from the small community of Beauregard in Lee County showed homes reduced to piles of wreckage, felled trees, and debris from blasted buildings scattered across roads.

Photos on social media from a highway near Smiths Station, about 20 miles (32 km) east of Beauregard, showed a large bar called the Buck Wild Saloon with its roof torn off and missing most of a wall after the storm swept through.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey warned residents on Twitter that more severe weather might be on the way. She said the state was working to help families who had been impacted.

"Our hearts go out to those who lost their lives in the storms that hit Lee County today," Ivey wrote on Twitter. "Praying for their families &amp; everyone whose homes or businesses were affected."

She said she was extending a state of emergency for Alabama that was issued on Feb. 23 to deal with flooding.

Lee County Schools announced on Twitter that campuses in the county would be closed on Monday.

The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Birmingham, Alabama, said it was sending three survey teams out on Monday to assess damage in Autauga, Macon, Lee and Barbour Counties.

"Please stay out of damaged areas so first responders can do their job," the NWS office said on Twitter.

The storm left more than 10,000 customers without power, the Birmingham News said, citing the utility Alabama Power.

As thousands faced a night without power, temperatures looked set to fall to near freezing following the storm.

"Colder air will sweep into the Southeast behind the severe weather with temperatures dropping into the 30s (1 C) southward to central Georgia and across most of Alabama by Monday morning," AccuWeather meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said. "Those without power who rely on electric heat need to find ways to say warm." 
&nbsp;

At least fourteen people, some of them children, died after a tornado swept through Lee County, Alabama on Sunday, destroying numerous homes and leaving a death toll that could rise as rescuers sift through the rubble, Sheriff Jay Jones said.

At least fourteen people, some of them children, died after a tornado swept through Lee County, Alabama on Sunday, destroying numerous homes and leaving a death toll that could rise as rescuers sift through the rubble, Sheriff Jay Jones said. Emergency workers were expected to toil through the night, pulling bodies and the injured out of the wreckage of destroyed homes and businesses. "The challenge is the sheer volume of the debris where all the homes were located," Jones said in an interview with CNN. "It's the most I've seen that I can recall." Lee County Coroner Bill Harris said the death toll could rise. "We've still got people being pulled out of rubble," he told the Birmingham News newspaper early on Sunday evening. "We're going to be here all night." The East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika said in a statement that it was treating more than 40 patients as a result of the tornado and expects to receive more. Some patients have been sent to other hospitals, it added. Severe weather unleashed one of numerous possible tornadoes that threatened the Southern United States on Sunday afternoon. Tornado warnings and watches were in effect for parts of Georgia and Alabama through Sunday evening. Video footage from the small community of Beauregard in Lee County showed homes reduced to piles of wreckage, felled trees, and debris from blasted buildings scattered across roads. Photos on social media from a highway near Smiths Station, about 20 miles (32 km) east of Beauregard, showed a large bar called the Buck Wild Saloon with its roof torn off and missing most of a wall after the storm swept through. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey warned residents on Twitter that more severe weather might be on the way. She said the state was working to help families who had been impacted. "Our hearts go out to those who lost their lives in the storms that hit Lee County today," Ivey wrote on Twitter. "Praying for their families & everyone whose homes or businesses were affected." She said she was extending a state of emergency for Alabama that was issued on Feb. 23 to deal with flooding. Lee County Schools announced on Twitter that campuses in the county would be closed on Monday. The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Birmingham, Alabama, said it was sending three survey teams out on Monday to assess damage in Autauga, Macon, Lee and Barbour Counties. "Please stay out of damaged areas so first responders can do their job," the NWS office said on Twitter. The storm left more than 10,000 customers without power, the Birmingham News said, citing the utility Alabama Power. As thousands faced a night without power, temperatures looked set to fall to near freezing following the storm. "Colder air will sweep into the Southeast behind the severe weather with temperatures dropping into the 30s (1 C) southward to central Georgia and across most of Alabama by Monday morning," AccuWeather meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said. "Those without power who rely on electric heat need to find ways to say warm."

At least fourteen dead in Alabama tornado: Official 

A tornado tore through the southern US state of Alabama on Sunday, killing 23 people, uprooting trees and causing "catastrophic" damage to buildings and roads, a local sheriff said.&nbsp;

"Unfortunately our toll, as far as fatalities, does stand at 23 at the current time," Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones told the local CBS affiliate, acknowledging that children were among the dead.

Other people have been hospitalized, some with "very serious injuries," he had earlier told reporters.

Search operations for those still missing were halted on Sunday night due to hazardous conditions, but Jones added they would resume on Monday morning.

"The devastation is incredible," he said.

"I cannot recall at least in the last 50 years... a situation where we have had this loss of life that we experienced today."

Wrecked houses, downed trees&nbsp; 
The swath of destruction left by the storm was a quarter mile (0.4 kilometres) wide and stretched for the "several miles that it travelled on the ground," according to Jones.

Still and video images showed trees that had been snapped in two, debris-strewn roads and wrecked houses in the wake of the storm.

More than 6,000 homes were left without power in Alabama, according to PowerOutage.US, while 16,000 suffered outages in neighbouring Georgia.

Authorities warned the death toll could rise further as rescuers search through the debris in Beauregard, about 95 kilometres east of the state capital Montgomery.&nbsp;

Television images showed the heavy rain had relented by dusk but many roads in the worst-hit areas were left littered with debris and unpassable.

Residents in the town of Smith Station told local TV news crews of their shock at turning up to work to find their businesses destroyed and seeing crying co-workers comforting one another.&nbsp;

One bar in the town appeared to have lost its roof and most of its walls, in images screened by MSNBC, while a cell tower was completely destroyed.

"My sister and niece have been under tornado watch and warnings all day in Montgomery... Prayers up for Alabama," Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Ava Duvernay tweeted.

Late Sunday, US President Donald Trump expressed his condolences to those affected.

"To the great people of Alabama and surrounding areas: Please be careful and safe," he wrote on Twitter.&nbsp;

"Tornadoes and storms were truly violent and more could be coming. To the families and friends of the victims, and to the injured, God bless you all!"

'Take cover'&nbsp; 
The National Weather Center had issued a tornado warning for areas including Lee County earlier on Sunday, calling on residents to: "TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows."

It tweeted late Sunday that the southeastern US, struck by a severe storm system, could see "damaging winds, large hail and isolated tornadoes" overnight.

While Jones referred to a single storm, CNN reported that two tornadoes had hit Lee County in quick succession, some of "at least a dozen" it said tore through Alabama and the neighbouring state of Georgia on Sunday.

NWS Birmingham suggested that there were multiple twisters in the area, tweeting that the "first tornado to impact Lee County today was at least an EF-3 &amp; at least 1/2 mi wide."

The EF-3 designation -- on a scale of 0 to 5 -- means the tornado had winds of 218 to 266 kilometres per hour.

A tornado tore through the southern US state of Alabama on Sunday, killing 23 people, uprooting trees and causing "catastrophic" damage to buildings and roads, a local sheriff said.

A tornado tore through the southern US state of Alabama on Sunday, killing 23 people, uprooting trees and causing "catastrophic" damage to buildings and roads, a local sheriff said. "Unfortunately our toll, as far as fatalities, does stand at 23 at the current time," Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones told the local CBS affiliate, acknowledging that children were among the dead. Other people have been hospitalized, some with "very serious injuries," he had earlier told reporters. Search operations for those still missing were halted on Sunday night due to hazardous conditions, but Jones added they would resume on Monday morning. "The devastation is incredible," he said. "I cannot recall at least in the last 50 years... a situation where we have had this loss of life that we experienced today." Wrecked houses, downed trees The swath of destruction left by the storm was a quarter mile (0.4 kilometres) wide and stretched for the "several miles that it travelled on the ground," according to Jones. Still and video images showed trees that had been snapped in two, debris-strewn roads and wrecked houses in the wake of the storm. More than 6,000 homes were left without power in Alabama, according to PowerOutage.US, while 16,000 suffered outages in neighbouring Georgia. Authorities warned the death toll could rise further as rescuers search through the debris in Beauregard, about 95 kilometres east of the state capital Montgomery. Television images showed the heavy rain had relented by dusk but many roads in the worst-hit areas were left littered with debris and unpassable. Residents in the town of Smith Station told local TV news crews of their shock at turning up to work to find their businesses destroyed and seeing crying co-workers comforting one another. One bar in the town appeared to have lost its roof and most of its walls, in images screened by MSNBC, while a cell tower was completely destroyed. "My sister and niece have been under tornado watch and warnings all day in Montgomery... Prayers up for Alabama," Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Ava Duvernay tweeted. Late Sunday, US President Donald Trump expressed his condolences to those affected. "To the great people of Alabama and surrounding areas: Please be careful and safe," he wrote on Twitter. "Tornadoes and storms were truly violent and more could be coming. To the families and friends of the victims, and to the injured, God bless you all!" 'Take cover' The National Weather Center had issued a tornado warning for areas including Lee County earlier on Sunday, calling on residents to: "TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows." It tweeted late Sunday that the southeastern US, struck by a severe storm system, could see "damaging winds, large hail and isolated tornadoes" overnight. While Jones referred to a single storm, CNN reported that two tornadoes had hit Lee County in quick succession, some of "at least a dozen" it said tore through Alabama and the neighbouring state of Georgia on Sunday. NWS Birmingham suggested that there were multiple twisters in the area, tweeting that the "first tornado to impact Lee County today was at least an EF-3 & at least 1/2 mi wide." The EF-3 designation -- on a scale of 0 to 5 -- means the tornado had winds of 218 to 266 kilometres per hour.

At least 23 dead in Alabama tornado: Officials

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