Washington, Mar 4 (IANS): At least 14 people were killed after a series of tornadoes hit the US states of Alabama and Georgia, authorities said.

At least a dozen tornadoes touched down in Alabama and Georgia on Sunday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

"We have a pretty significant area of damage," Sheriff Jay Jones told CNN.

Several people have been taken to a hospital with serious injuries, he added.

Search and rescue operations were hampered on Sunday evening due to bad weather.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey extended the state of emergency that had been issued last month due to tornadoes and severe weather.

TV footage showed trees destroyed by the powerful winds and debris from levelled homes piled up on the side of the road.

The NWS said that an airport in Eufaula, Alabama, along the Alabama-Georgia border was destroyed, along with a fire station.

The tornadoes are part of the same system that is expected to bring winter weather to much of the eastern US this week, it added.