The governor of Georgia has declared a state of emergency in seven counties - after 11 people were killed in tornado storms on Sunday.

Stunned tornado survivors were picking through what is left of their battered communities today after storms killed at least 22 people in three states.

US President George Bush will tomorrow visit areas hit by a tornadoes that have killed at least 20 people in several American states, including eight students at an Alabama high school.

A system of powerful storms packing tornadoes moved through the south-eastern US, killing at least 17 people including five at an Alabama high school where students became pinned under debris when a roof collapsed.