At least 23 dead as tornado swarm hits Alabama, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina

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Eufaula airport. Pic: Jack Tibbs
Image:An overturned plane and debris at Weedon Field in Eufaula. Pic: Jack Tibbs
At least 23 people have died, some of them children, amid "catastrophic" damage from a tornado in Alabama.
US weather officials said an "outbreak of tornadoes" were unleashed by a vast storm system crossing a wide area of the southeast on Sunday.
The severe weather destroyed and damaged multiple homes and businesses, snapped trees and left a trail of destruction and weather warnings extending into Georgia, Florida and South Carolina.
Emergency workers rushed to join search and rescue efforts in hard-hit Lee County, Alabama, and spent the night pulling the dead and injured from the wreckage.
At least 23 were confirmed dead in Alabama. Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said that children were among them.
He said several people had been taken to hospital "some of them with very serious injuries," while others were reported missing.
Industrial park in Eufaula. Pic: Jack Tibbs
Image:Vehicles at an Industrial park in Eufaula were left crumpled. Pic: Jack Tibbs
A view of a tornado seen in the distance at Warner Robins, Georgia. Credit: TWITTER @KEITH_IRWIN
Image:One of the tornadoes captured on camera by @Keith_Irwin in Warner Robins, Georgia
"The challenge is the sheer volume of the debris where all the homes were located," he told CNN. "It's the most I've seen that I can recall."
Drones equipped with heat-seeking devices flew overhead to scan the area for survivors but the dangerous conditions halted the search.
Authorities warned that the death toll could rise further as search efforts continued.
Eufaula fire department. Pic: Jack Tibbs
Image:Eufaula fire department was badly damaged. Pic: Jack Tibbs
Damaged vehicles in a shelter next to debris
Image:Damaged vehicles in a shelter next to debris
Mr Jones said the storm's path of destruction stretched for miles through Lee County and in places was at least half a mile wide.
He said the death toll could likely rise, but that authorities were pausing search efforts overnight because conditions were too dangerous in the dark due to large amounts of debris.
Lee County Coroner Bill Harris said he was forced to call in help from the state because there were more bodies than his four-person office could handle.
People clear fallen trees and debris on a road following the tornado in Alabama
Image:People clear fallen trees and debris on a road following the tornado in Alabama
Debris of housing and snapped branches following the tornado
Image:Debris of housing and snapped branches following the tornado
The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado with at least an F3 rating and a track at least half a mile wide caused the devastation in Alabama.
It said radar and video evidence showed what looked like a large tornado crossing the area near Beauregard shortly after 2pm.
President Donald Trump tweeted late Sunday: "To the great people of Alabama and surrounding areas: Please be careful and safe... To the families and friends of the victims, and to the injured, God bless you all!"
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey 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," Ms Ivey wrote on Twitter.
"Praying for their families & everyone whose homes or businesses were affected."

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