Search efforts resumed amid fresh rain today across a swath of central Florida devastated by tornado-bearing thunderstorms that killed at least 20 people, including a high school girl struck by a tree as she lay in bed.

Disaster crews with dogs went from one pile of debris to another in a search of bodies after powerful storms swept through Florida.

AT least 14 people were killed yesterday as thunderstorms and at least one tornado struck central Florida, flattening homes and a church, causing power outages and lifting an articulated truck into the air.

Severe thunderstorms tore through central Florida early today, damaging homes, causing power outages and killing at least two people, authorities said.