More than 200 people have been injured by three tornadoes which ripped through southeastern Virginia in the US.

The tornadoes left behind a 25-mile trail of demolished homes, damaged cars and power lines, which were torn down in the areas of Suffolk, Colonial Heights, Brunswick County and Norfolk.

Governor Timothy Kaine has declared a state of emergency to co-ordinate the state’s response to what his office said was widespread damage in the wake of storms.

In Suffolk, at least 200 people were injured while 18 more were hurt in Colonial Heights, south of Richmond, after the first of the tornadoes touched down at around 1pm local time.

Spokeswoman Dana Woodson said the areas around Sentara Obici Hospital and in the community of Driver, located within the city, were hit hardest. The hospital was damaged but is able to treat patients.

“There are trees down everywhere and I’ve seen a half-dozen vehicles flipped over,” Suffolk resident Richard Hicks said. Another witness, Robert Brinkley, said: “There are tops blown off the roofs of many, many houses.”

Source: ITV.com