USA: Several people die from hurricanes in Alabama

A series of hurricanes has cost several lives in the southeastern United States. At least 23 people have died, several sources report, citing Lee County Sheriff of the state of Alabama, Jay Jones. In addition, there are several missing persons and seriously injured. In Lee County, there are "catastrophic" damage, Jones said.

"We held up the search until light in the morning. It's just too hazardous in the area at this point. We've got debris everywhere, "said the sheriff of Lee County, Alabama, of the possible tornado's destruction. https://t.co/fzH4wCp3Y0 pic.twitter.com/X2hKqpJORQ

In addition to Alabama, areas in neighboring Georgia were hit by the hurricanes. They came to wind speeds of up to 218 kilometers per hour according to the National Meteorological Service. There were about a dozen hurricanes in both states. The municipality of Beauregard seemed particularly hard hit, from which massive damage was reported.

US President Donald Trump spoke up on Twitter, calling for more hurricanes.

Alabama and surrounding areas: Please be careful and safe. Tornadoes and storms were truly violent and more could be coming. To the families and friends of the victims, God bless you all!

According to the weather service, the first hurricane that hit Lee County had a diameter of almost a kilometer. Pictures of the scene showed destroyed houses, uprooted trees and rubble-strewn streets. Near the city of Smith's Station, a cell tower crashed onto a four-lane highway. The power was lost in thousands of households.

Mike Haskey / Ledger Enquirer / DPA

Mobile mast on a highway at Smith Station

The rescue workers were deployed with a large contingent. Salvage and the search for victims were made difficult by the onset of darkness.

Local station WFSA 12 quoted Lee County's legal physician Bill Harris as saying that the rescuers could not penetrate to some of the affected areas because of the chaotic situation. "This is a day of destruction for Lee County," Harris said. "I can not remember that in our lifetime we have had such a situation with masses of victims."

The station MSNBC said Harris, he assumes that the death toll will increase