At least 26 people have been killed after a series of tornadoes tore through towns and cities in the South and Midwest of the United States. Homes were destroyed and thousands left without power after huge storms caused devastation across several states.

According to the Washington Post, more than 60 tornado reports were recorded. States including Arkansas, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, Alabama and Mississippi have all had fatalities as a result of the weather. One storm shredded through the Arkansas town of Wynne – a community some 170km east of the state capital, Little Rock.

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency in the state of Arkansas on Friday, with the national guard activated to help with recovery efforts.