Huge flashes of lightning as tornado hits Nashville

At least seven people have died as tornadoes swept through Tennessee on Tuesday, the state's Emergency Management Agency has confirmed.

At least two tornadoes touched down in central Tennessee, including one that ripped across downtown Nashville and caused about 40 buildings to collapse around the city, police said.

Brian Bates captured footage showing the Nashville sky being lit up by flashes as the adverse weather struck the city.

Authorities pleaded with people to stay indoors, at least until daybreak could reveal the dangers of a landscape which has been littered with blown-down walls and roofs, snapped power lines and huge broken trees.

Police officers and fire crews were responding to about 40 building collapses around the city, Metro Nashville police said.

A tornado near downtown reportedly stayed on the ground into Hermitage, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) east of the city.

Other areas reporting extensive damage included Mt. Juliet, downtown Nashville and Germantown.

Schools, courts and transit lines were closed, and four polling stations were moved only hours before Super Tuesday voting was set to begin.