Tornadoes on Friday hit the south-central U.S. state of Arkansas, killing at least three people and injuring 25 others, local authorities said.

The deaths were reported in Van Buren County, where tornadoes also destroyed several mobile homes, said the state's Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Renee Preslar.

Tornadoes also tore down trees and power lines in the county about 120 km north of Little Rock.

Preslar said rescue teams were searching for people who might still be in their damaged homes.

"There are people possibly trapped there," she said. "Search and rescue is going in for a possible missing person."