Tennessee ? At least eight people in western Tennessee were killed as severe storms and possible tornadoes swept across the state, emergency officials said.

Local emergency officials reported the eight deaths in Dyer County, and they were concerned the number of fatalities could rise, said Kurt Pickering, spokesman for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. Details on the deaths weren’t immediately available early this morning.

The Jackson Sun newspaper reported another fatality in neighboring Gibson County.

The National Weather Service reported that tornadoes were spotted in five counties in Tennessee’s northwest corner, and officials said the storms caused extensive damage to buildings.

The same storm system produced damaging wind and hail in parts of Arkansas and Indiana.

In Indianapolis, the storm hit with heavy wind and rain that shook downtown office towers as thousands of fans departed a free John Mellencamp concert staged for the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four weekend.