At least seven dead as severe winds and tornadoes hammer US south

After the storm began easing on Thursday night, tens of thousands of customers were without power across the two states.

An SUV is overturned near 1349 County Road 43 in the aftermath from severe weather in Prattville, Alabama (Vasha Hunt/AP)

A massive storm system whipping up severe winds and spawning tornadoes has cut a path across the US south, killing at least seven people in Georgia and Alabama, where a twister damaged buildings and tossed cars in the streets of historic Selma.

Authorities said a clearer picture of the extent of the damage and a search for additional victims would come on Friday, when conditions were expected to clear.