Rodney Ratcliff shoulders a roll of plastic to cover roofs that were damaged when an early morning tornado tore through the Villages in Lady Lake, Florida Feb. 2, 2007. Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- A tornado killed at least 14 people in central Florida Friday morning, causing massive destruction in the region, CNN reported.

    There is no details on how these people died, but local officials described the aftermath of the tornado attack as "breathtaking", according to the report.

    The tornado, together with some storms, also destroyed hundreds of homes and about 20,000 homes were left without power.

    The hardest-hit area is in Lady Lake in Lake County, 80 km northwest of Orlando.

    Dozens of mobile homes near Lady Lake were destroyed and a church was demolished.

    The 31-year-old church was designed to withstand 241 kph winds.

    At least five automobile crashes took place due to the tornado and a nearby highway was closed for about three hours.

    The Florida Department of Emergency Management said the state Emergency Operations Center was activated.

    Many local residents said they were unaware trouble was coming and did not hear warning sirens.

    But the National Weather Service had warned Thursday about a possible storm could hit Florida.

    The tornado and storms also walloped Volusia and Sumter counties, toppling trees and power lines and sending tractor-trailers careening off Interstate 4.

    A young woman said a friend, a 17 year-old girl, was killed by the tornado.

    As daybreak arrived authorities were searching for people who may be in need.

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