At least 178 people are dead after fierce storms and tornadoes barreled across the southern United States. One hundred twenty-eight people were killed in Alabama alone. Alabama’s Browns Ferry nuclear power plant was forced to use backup generators after its main power source was knocked out. The city of Tuscaloosa was among the hardest hit, with at least 15 people killed. Tuscaloosa Mayor Walter Maddox said the death toll could rise.

Mayor Walter Maddox: “As of 7:30 p.m., we have 15 confirmed fatalities, and I’m afraid that number is going to be ever increasing. We have well over a hundred injuries throughout the city of Tuscaloosa. We have hundreds of homes and businesses destroyed, and hundreds more damaged.”

In addition to the Alabama toll, 11 people were killed in Mississippi, another 11 in Georgia, while one person died each in Tennessee and Virginia. A total of 139 tornadoes were recorded, putting April on track to break the all-time record for monthly tornadoes.