美国紧急事务官员说，在近日横扫美国南部各州的猛烈风暴和龙卷风中，至少有200人丧生。
阿拉巴马州州长罗伯特.本特利星期四说，在阿拉巴马州，恶劣天气已造成131人死亡，他预计死亡人数会上升。他说，阿拉巴马州有几个县经历了大规模的财产损毁，多达1百万人可能失去供电。这位州长说，阿拉巴马州官员星期四将要求美国总统奥巴马加快处理一项重大灾害援助请求。
星期三晚上，奥巴马宣布阿拉巴马州为联邦紧急状态，授权向该州67个县提供援助。阿拉巴马州一位紧急事务官员称，大约2000名国民警卫队军人在该州帮助救援行动。
星期三，一场龙卷风摧毁了阿拉巴马州的塔斯卡卢萨，这里是美国阿拉巴马大学所在地。整个城市的建筑物被夷为平地，该市许多运作无法发挥功能。
官员们说，除了阿拉巴马州，暴风雨已在密西西比州造成32人丧生。在乔治亚州、田纳西州、维吉尼亚州和阿肯色州，也有人员死亡的报道。
U.S. emergency officials say at least 200 people have been killed in violent storms and tornadoes that have swept through the southern U.S. states in recent days.
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley said Thursday the severe weather has killed 131 people in his state, and that he expects the death toll to rise.He said several Alabama counties have experienced massive property destruction, and that up to one million people may be without power. The governor said Alabama officials will ask U.S. President Barack Obama Thursday to expedite a major disaster aid request.
Late Wednesday, Mr. Obama declared a federal state of emergency for Alabama, authorizing assistance for its 67 counties. An Alabama emergency official said some 2,000 National Guard soldiers are helping in rescue operations in the state.
On Wednesday, a tornado devastated the city of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, home to the University of Alabama. Buildings throughout the city were flattened, and many city operations are unable to function.
In addition to Alabama, officials say the storms have killed 32 people in Mississippi. Fatalities have also been reported in Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia and Arkansas.