Tornadoes have killed at least 18 people and injured more than 50 in the US state of Alabama, officials said tonight.

The fatalities included 15 people at a high school where students were trapped under a collapsed roof.

The Alabama emergency management agency said that the number could very well increase as the search effort continues through the night.

Martha Rodriquez, a 15-year-old student, said she had left the school about five minutes before the storm hit. When she returned, a hall at the school had collapsed, she said.

Two people have also died in the town of Enterprise, and one in rural Millers Ferry, where a separate apparent twister destroyed mobile homes.

The same weather system has been blamed for a tornado that killed a seven-year-old girl in Missouri. George Bush, who visited New Orleans yesterday, was briefed on the tornadoes by senior staff and called Alabama governor Bob Riley and Missouri governor Matt Blunt, White House spokeswoman Dana Perrino said.

This entry was posted on Monday, March 26th, 2007 at 9:38 am While Dave was in Money. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.