Abu Dhabi: Tornadoes and heavy rains swept across central and southern United States destroying homes and businesses, and causing significant damage to power lines and trees.

According to Emirates News Agency, the National Weather Service (NWS) reported at least 15 tornado occurrences across four states by late Wednesday. The severe weather resulted in injuries to eight individuals in Kentucky and Arkansas, with one person critically injured in Ballard County, Kentucky.

In response to the devastation, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency late Wednesday, as the state grappled with hail and torrential rains. The NWS indicated that millions remained under alerts for tornadoes and flash floods, warning that the threat would persist into early Thursday.

The NWS forecasts that violent storms will continue to impact the country for several days, describing Wednesday as "the beginning of a multi-day catastrophic and potentially historic heavy rainfall event." Tornado and flash flood warnings were issued for Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Oklahoma.