At least six killed as storm batters US

Three people have been killed in Mississippi, two in Tennessee and one in Arkansas

People inspect a storm-damaged home in the Roundaway community near Clarksdale, Mississippi (Troy Catchings/The Press Register via AP)

At least six people have died after storms and a tornado hit southern and mid-western regions of the US.

Tornadoes hit Indiana and northern Mississippi, killing three people. A tree blew over onto a house in Arkansas, trapping a one-year-old child inside and killing an 18-year-old woman and two others were killed in Tennessee.

In Benton Country, Akansas, at least two people remain missing as rescue teams do a house-by-house search to ensure residents are accounted for.

Strong winds damaged or destroyed at least 20 homes in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Local Mayor Bill Luckett said the only confirmed casualty was a dog killed by debris.

Planes at a small airport overturned and an unknown number of people were injured.

"I'm looking at some horrific damage right now," the mayor said. "Sheet metal is wrapped around trees. There are overturned airplanes; a building is just destroyed."

Television images showed the tornado appeared to be on the ground for more than 10 minutes.

Mississippi is no stranger to adverse weather conditions, only last year a tornado hit a south-east region of the state, killing five people and injuring dozens more.