AKIPRESS.COM - Severe weather has killed at least 18 people in the US South and injured many more, emergency officials say, reports BBC.

Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has declared a state of emergency in seven counties in the state, where 14 people have died.

Four people were killed by tornadoes in Mississippi on Saturday.

A "tornado risk" continued for Southern Florida, the National Weather Service said, as it warned of damaging winds and hail.

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency said in a news release that the 14 victims were in the southern Cook, Brooks, Dougherty and Berrien counties.

Most of the deaths occurred in Cook County, when a mobile home park was apparently struck by a tornado.

Cook County coroner Tim Purvis said numerous mobile homes had been "levelled" before dawn on Sunday in the park near the city of Adel. He said emergency teams were still searching for survivors.

Mr Purvis estimated that the park has about 40 mobile homes in total, and roughly half were destroyed.

"These storms have devastated communities and homes in South Central Georgia, and the state is making all resources available to the impacted areas," Governor Deal said in a statement.