Severe storm systems tore through the central United States on Friday and Saturday, leaving behind devastation and several dead.

So far, eight people were reportedly killed due to the extreme weather. Four people were reported killed in Oklahoma and four others died in the state of Michigan.

"Severe weather struck Major County last night and tragically claimed the lives of a mother and daughter," Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt posted on X.

Meanwhile, Michigan's Branch County Sheriff's Office said a tornado touched down near the community of Union City in the southern part of the state on Friday, killing three people and injuring 12.

"Our thoughts are with those who have lost family, friends, and property during this incident," the Branch County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

Some 50 miles (80 kilometers) west of that location, a tornado reportedly hit Cass County, where officials said one person was killed and more than 500 people were without power.

On Saturday, rescuers were searching for survivors under rubble, while authorities began the painstaking process of cleaning up scattered debris.

Disaster relief workers were going door to door in the Union City and Three Rivers areas to offer meals and other assistance, state officials said.

State of emergency in Michigan

The severe thunderstorms began in the neighboring state of Indiana, which appear to have sent off multiple tornadoes into southern Michigan, Lonnie Fisher of the National Weather Service (NWS) said on Saturday.

"Mostly likely there were three distinct tornadoes, but we won't know 100% for sure until they finish the survey," he stated, adding that the agency sent teams to the region to evaluate the damage and confirm tornadoes.

Meanwhile, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer activated a state emergency operations center "to coordinate an all-hands-on-deck response to severe weather in southwestern Michigan."

The NWS forecasted strong storms and flash flood risks on Saturday stretching from the midwestern Great Lakes region to Texas. 

Spring storms typically occur in the region in what many call tornado season, which generally begins at various times in different parts of the US.

Tornadoes can form unexpectedly and within minutes, leaving individuals to scramble for shelter with short notice.

Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko