NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Feb 6, 2008 (AFP) - Tornados killed more than 20 people and destroyed buildings as they battered the southern states of Tennessee, Arkansas and Kentucky, television reports said Wednesday. CNN news raised the toll to 23 with more than 100 injured as the tornados swept the storm-prone states overnight, citing local authorities amid varying counts of casualties.
Emergency services in Tennessee confirmed to AFP that several tornados swept by, causing severe damage, but could not provide details of victims. The Commercial Appeal newspaper in the Tennessee state capital of Nashville reported that a man was found dead in a truck. It had earlier reported a man dead in a car. At Union University in the town of Jackson, in western Tennessee, a tornado collapsed roofs, trapping students under rubble in their dormitory. No deaths were reported there, local channel WSMV said. CNN reported that hundreds of thousands of people were left without power. In nearby Memphis a shopping mall was damaged and had to be evacuated with some injuries, reports said.
Arkansas and Tennessee were among states holding nominating votes Tuesday for November's presidential election. Democratic contender Hillary Clinton, celebrating victory in both states, told a crowd: "We want to keep the people of Arkansas and Tennessee in our prayers. They've suffered horrible tornados tonight." "They are in our thoughts and in our prayers," said her Democratic rival Barack Obama. "We hope that our federal government will respond quickly and rapidly to make sure that they get all the help that they need." Several polling stations in Tennessee and Arkansas had to be closed as the storm approached, reports said.
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