At least 21 people are reported to have died and dozens others injured after tornadoes tore through parts of two US states, BBC reported.

Officials in Kentucky said there had been 14 deaths due to severe weather while seven people were killed in Missouri, including five in the city of St Louis.

The Kentucky tornado struck in Laurel County, in the south-east of the state, in the early hours of Saturday. Officials said they expected the death toll to rise.

Missouri officials said 5,000 buildings were damaged, roofs destroyed and power lines knocked downed as a tornado struck on Friday, according to BBC.

The US National Weather Service said tornadoes also hit neighbouring Illinois, with more severe weather conditions stretching eastwards to the Atlantic coast. On Saturday, it warned of few tornadoes that could hit northern Texas over the weekend as a result of strong to severe storms in the area.