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Photos: The aftermath of Alabama’s deadly tornadoes

Sifting through in Beauregard, Alabama.
Sifting through in Beauregard, Alabama.
Image: AP Photo/David Goldman
By
Johnny Simon
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A series of brutal tornadoes, packing 150 mile-per-hour (241 km per hour)  winds, have killed at least 23 people in Alabama since they touched down yesterday (March 3).

With recovery and rescue efforts still under way, initial images from social media and news agencies show crushed vehicles, downed trees, and torn-apart homes, as stunned residents take in the damage. Pictures from this morning only give a small sense of scale of devastation across the southern US state.

Ten people in the US died in tornadoes last year, a relatively low number. In 2011, an especially deadly year, 553 were killed by tornadoes.

A young man stands on a downed tree trunk after back-to-back tornadoes touched down killing at least 23 people, in Beauregard, Alabama.
A young man stands on a downed tree trunk after back-to-back tornadoes touched down killing at least 23 people, in Beauregard, Alabama.
Image: Reuters/Elijah Nouvelage
Amid debris in Lee County, Alabama.
Amid debris in Lee County, Alabama.
Image: WKRG-TV via AP
Some of the damage after tornadoes touched down in Lee County near Beauregard.
Some of the damage after tornadoes touched down in Lee County near Beauregard.
Image: Reuters/Elijah Nouvelage
Debris is cleared along a road following tornado in Beauregard, Alabama.
Debris is cleared along a road following tornado in Beauregard, Alabama.
Image: Scott Fillmer via Reuters
Debris litters a yard after a deadly tornado damaged a home in Beauregard.
Debris litters a yard after a deadly tornado damaged a home in Beauregard.
Image: AP Photo/David Goldman
Family members console each other after tornado damaged this home in Beauregard.
Family members console each other after tornado damaged this home in Beauregard.
Image: John Amis/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
Volunteers help clear debris.
Volunteers help clear debris.
Image: John Amis/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
Trees felled by a tornado in Beauregard.
Trees felled by a tornado in Beauregard.
Image: Scott Fillmer via Reuters
A home was blown off its foundation in Beauregard.
A home was blown off its foundation in Beauregard.
Image: AP Photo/David Goldman
One of the damaged vehicles in Beauregard.
One of the damaged vehicles in Beauregard.
Image: Reuters/Elijah Nouvelage