At least 14 people have died in the central United States in tornadoes and other extreme storms in several states, including Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma, AFP reported.
Rescue efforts are ongoing and hundreds of thousands of customers are without power after storms hit the Southern Plains region overnight on May 25.
In Texas, Cook County Sheriff Ray Sappington said seven people were killed after a tornado touched down in the Valley View area, north of Dallas.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing.
The tornado destroyed homes and a gas station and overturned cars on the interstate. Sappington called the damage "pretty extensive."
In Oklahoma, at least two people have died after a tornado hit Mays County, County Emergency Management Director Johnny Janzen said.
In Arkansas, five people died in storms in the early hours of May 26, authorities confirmed. Power lines and trees were down, and flash floods were reported in some areas.
Up north in Indiana, the start of the Indianapolis 500 race was delayed several hours because of storms in the area, and fans were asked to leave the stands and seek shelter.
125,000 spectators were expected to attend the race, which is one of the most iconic auto races in America./BGNES