Dozens of tornadoes have sliced across southern US states ripping apart homes and shopping malls, killing at least
48 people and injuring hundreds more
.Officials say 24 people have been killed in Tennessee, 13 in Arkansas and seven in Kentucky.
US media reports hundreds injured, and CNN says four people have been killed in Alabama.
President George W Bush has offered prayers and disaster relief.
More than 50 tornadoes touched down as a series of rare winter thunderstorms rolled through the region late yesterday and early today.