Tornadoes that hit the southern US city of Nashville and surrounding areas have left at least 25 dead and many more missing or homeless, Tennessee's governor said on Tuesday.At least 17 of those who died were from Cookeville, which is about 80 miles (129km) east of Nashville, Tennessee. The death toll included children, officials said.
The tornadoes hit overnight, levelling streets, smashing glass, ripping off roofs, destroying homes, downing power lines and leaving debris in its wake, prompting Governor Bill Lee to declare a state of emergency.
In a news conference earlier on Tuesday, Nashville Mayor John Cooper opened by saying that "last night is a reminder of how fragile life is."
