WASHINGTON: At least 11 people have been killed after powerful weekend storms tore through the southeastern US state of Georgia, media reported on Sunday.

A rural part of south-central Georgia was hardest hit, including a trailer park where seven people were killed, Cook County coroner Tim Purvis told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Atlanta TV channel WSB reported, meanwhile, that another four people were killed elsewhere in the state, along with 23 others who were injured.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported extensive damage in some part of Georgia, with numerous felled trees and downed power lines in several counties.

Although storms have passed, authorities warned that a second line of severe weather is advancing, with the threat of more heavy rain and powerful winds.

The National Weather Service warned of an “increased threat of strong, long-track tornadoes,” that could hit northern and central Georgia on Sunday evening.

Some areas have already received four inches (10 centimetres) of rain and could get up to three additional inches, the NWS said.

The governor of Georgia has declared a state of emergency in seven counties that have suffered deaths, injuries and severe damage from weekend storms.

Gov. Nathan Deal’s office said on Sunday the emergency declaration includes Brooks, Cook and Berrien counties where 11 people have been confirmed dead in south central Georgia near the Florida state line. Also included were Atkinson, Colquitt, Lowndes and Thomas counties.

Deal said in a statement that state agencies are “making all resources available” to affected counties and “our thoughts and prayers are with Georgians suffering from the storm’s impact.”

Published in Dawn January 23rd, 2017