Tornadoes and storms that have been battering the southern United States killed at least 128 people on Wednesday in Alabama alone. Officials said one of the hardest-hit cities was Tuscaloosa, where at least 15 people died when a massive tornado struck last evening. With deaths also in Georgia, Tennessee and Mississippi, at least 172 people in total have been killed in recent days. States of emergency have been declared in seven states, and federal aid money is being sent to Alabama. The US National Weather Service has preliminary reports of nearly 300 tornadoes since the storm began on Friday, including more than 130 on Thursday alone. The current storm system is forecast to hit North and South Carolina before making its way further north-east. The governors of Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee have all declared a state of emergency as a result of the newest round of heavy winds, rains and tornadoes. President Obama's declared a state of emergency for Alabama, releasing federal aid money.