The death toll related to the tornadoes that rip through the Midwestern United States is growing constantly.

According to CNN, the death toll is now at 17. More specifically, sixteen deaths have been reported in Arkansas and one in Oklahoma.

Meanwhile, rescue teams are looking for survivors in the dark and local authorities say that there are many wounded.

A man was killed by a tornado in the city of Mayflower, 35 km north – west of Little Rock, where around 45 homes have been destroyed, trees have been uprooted and a power outage has occurred, making the rescue teams’ work even more difficult.

The representative of the Governor of Arkansas said that the many were wounded by the “giant tornado”.

Tornadoes have also hit Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri.

The US Weather Service has issued a warning for severe storms and tornadoes in the central and southern regions of the country.