Significant damage has occurred in Central Arkansas. (File)

Washington:

The death count from a major storm system that has produced tornadoes and devastating winds across several southern and central US states has risen to 18, officials said Saturday.

A spokesperson for the emergency management agency in Tennessee, one of the states hardest hit by a series of storms which have struck since Friday, confirmed seven weather-related fatalities to AFP.

Officials across states including Arkansas, Mississippi, Indiana and Alabama had earlier counted a total of 11 fatalities.

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