Tennessee hit hard as 27 die amidst US tornado terror

THUNDERSTORMS packing tornadoes and hail as big as grapefruits ripped through eight mid-western states, killing at least 27 people, injuring scores and destroying hundreds of homes.

Tennessee was hit hardest, with tornadoes striking five western counties yesterday and killing 23 people, including an infant and a family of four.

Most of the deaths were along a 25-mile path stretching from Newbern, about 80 miles northeast of Memphis, to Bradford, officials said.