Storms rage across east coast

Brutal spring storms have kept up their fury as they raged across the US east coast, flattening businesses, flipping cars and destroying homes, killing more than six people in North Carolina and Virginia. In all, 25 people have died in six states since the storms started wreaking havoc four days ago. And the death toll is likely to rise.

Total number of fatalities are still unconfirmed, but is believed to be on the rise. In Gloucester, Virginia, three people were killed and more than 60 injured when a tornado ripped through a coastal area. Earlier, officials in Raleigh said more than one person had died in the capital city in Wake County, one of the counties Perdue mentioned.

Urban search-and-rescue teams were also looking for residents who might be trapped in damaged buildings. North Carolina governor Beverly Perdue said some 62 tornadoes were reported. This year's spring storm was easily the deadliest of the season, but there were stories of survival too.

In South Carolina, a church with six people inside collapsed after it was hit by a tornado, but somehow no-one was injured. And in Sanford, North Carolina, the manager of a hardware store was credited with saving more than 100 workers and employees by ushering them to the back of the store, which acted as a makeshift shelter as the weather rolled in.

The storms began in Oklahoma on Thursday, then roared through Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.

Seven people each were killed in Arkansas and Alabama, which was hit a day earlier. Alabama governor Robert Bentley visited some of the devastated areas and declared the entire state a disaster.

Things looked similar in North Carolina. Roofs were ripped off stores, trees were plucked out of the ground and 'scores' of homes were damaged, emergency management director Doug Hoell said.

- Sky News