BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Two people have died in the Birmingham area as storms pounded the South and Midwest, prompting tornado warnings in a handful of states early today.

Jefferson County sheriff’s spokesman Randy Christian said a 16-year-old boy was killed in Clay and an 82-year-old man died in the community of Oak Grove.

A storm system produced a possible tornado that moved across northern Jefferson County about 3:30 a.m., causing damage in Oak Grove, Graysville, Fultondale, Centerpoint, Clay and Trussville, Christian said. He said several homes were destroyed and numerous injuries were reported.

Elsewhere in the area, searchers were going from house-to-house in an effort to rescue people trapped in their homes.

Fire crews were starting the search in Center Point, north of Birmingham, where there were reports of an unknown number of people trapped, Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency Duty Manager Bob Ammons said.

In Arkansas, there were possible tornadoes in Arkansas, Dallas, Lonoke, Prairie and Cleveland counties Sunday night. The storms also brought hail and strong winds as they moved through parts of Arkansas, Tennessee, Illinois and Mississippi.

By The Associated Press