Five dead in Alabama as South braces for tornadoes and 135mph winds

At least five people have died in Alabama so far as storms and tornadoes moved across the Southeast US on Thursday.

The casualties were in Calhoun County, Alabama, where search and rescue efforts remain under way, according to CNN.

On Thursday afternoon, a so-called “tornadic thunderstorm” traveled across upper Alabama through Georgia, more than 100 miles. The National Weather service has issued tornado warnings for the states of Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina, while forecasters warn that Tennessee and Mississippi could also experience high storm and tornado risk. The tornado warning remains in place until 8pm Eastern time.

Among the twisters spinning off the storm is a tornado that’s roughly 35 miles from the city of Birmingham, Alabama, where the National Weather Service has issued a tornado emergency alert.

Another already touched down in the city this afternoon, destroying homes and knocking out power for roughly 16,000 customers in the surrounding areas.

Other injuries include a police officer in Florence, Alabama, who was struck by lightning while setting up barricades.