US storms: 14 dead and dozens injured after tornadoes, floods and mudslides ravage southern states

Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee were among the states worst hit by the devastating Christmas Eve weather

Storm batters house in Mississippi

At least 14 people have died after tornadoes tore through southern US states including Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee.

Authorities confirmed seven deaths in Mississippi, including a seven-year-old boy killed in a car hit by a storm, while six people died in Tennessee and one person was killed in Arkansas.

The tornadoes also caused floods in Alabama and a mudslide in Georgia.

Bobby Watkins, from Arkansas' Benton County, told the Associated Press: "Santa brought us a good one, didn't he?. I may have lost some stuff, but I got my life."

The violent weather is believed to be a result of unseasonably warm weather across the US, with such storms normally expected in spring rather than at Christmas.

The search for missing and dead has been complicated by people having left for Christmas.

Gregg Flynn, spokesman for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, said search teams were combing damaged homes and businesses for people still missing.

"Dozens more were injured, some seriously", he said.

Search teams combed damaged homes and businesses for people still missing, including at least one man in hard-hit Benton County.

"Until they know for sure where those folks are, they're going to keep looking, because we've had in some cases houses levelled, and they're just not there anymore," Mr Flynn added.

In Benton County, Glenda Hunt, 69, said she was cooking chicken when she heard the storm.

She said her daughter called to warn her about the impending rough weather and that she and her husband went into their shelter and shut the door against the wind.

Ms Hunt said she started praying when she heard sheet metal hitting trees.

"We're OK and that's all that matters," she said.

"But the Lord did save my furniture."

Tony Goodwin from Linden, Tennessee, said he was grateful to be alive.

"It makes you thankful to be alive and with your family," he said.

"It’s what Christmas is all about."

Mr Goodwin said he managed to climb back into his house to rescue some Christmas presents after it was knocked off its foundations, but that two of his neighbours had been killed.