Updated 7:10 p.m. ET

Three more bodies were found in the ruins of wildfires thatdestroyed hundreds of homes and businesses in eastern Tennessee,raising the death toll to seven, Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters saidWednesday, according to the Associated Press.

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Wind-whipped flames tore through the Great Smoky Mountains,killing at least seven people, destroying hundreds of homes andbusinesses and sending roughly 15,000 fleeing from the eastTennessee resort towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.

The wildfires spread with little warning Monday night and earlyTuesday, fueled by wind gusts of almost 90 mph, according toUSA Today.

The blaze apparently began when embers from a wildfire on nearbyChimney Tops Trail in the Great SmokyMountains National Park wafted into the Twin Creek andMynatt Park areas of town Monday night as the already heavy windsdoubled in speed, the Gatlinburg Fire Chief Greg Miller toldthe Knoxville News Sentinel.

At least 14 people suffered fire-related injuries, four of themserious. More than 2,000 people had been taken to emergencyshelters.

Some people, including guests at hotels in Gatlinburg, could notcomply with the evacuation orders as the fire advanced Monday nightbecause falling trees engulfed in flames blocked the only road out,CNN reported.

Damage widespread

The center of Gatlinburg’s tourist district escaped heavy damage,but "it's the apocalypse" on either side, Newmansville VolunteerFire Department Lt. Bobby Balding told USA Today.

Firefighters struggled to stop the flames throughout the dayTuesday, spurring help from across the state. More than 200firefighters poured into the area from as far west as Memphis, andthe Tennessee National Guard used a helicopter to dump water on theflames.

Eight new fires erupted Tuesday into Wednesday, Gatlinburg FireChief Greg Miller said. The heavy rains that followed the fireshave created "new challenges" as firefighters continue to check hotspots and assess damages, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported.

Wildfires have ravaged the Southeast throughout the monthleaving a haze of smoke across the region.

(Source: YouTube)

Storms kill 5 in Alabama and Tennesse

Sourthern states were also hit with servere storms on Tuesdaynight. At least 5 people have died.

In northeastern Alabama, a tornado killed at least three peopleearly Wednesday, according to NBC News. Two people were later confirmed deadin Tennessee.

A large area of the Southeast was set to stay under a tornadowatch until noon Wednesday.

Keep reading to view more photos of the Tennessee wildfiredamage:

Burned structures are seen from aboard a National Guardhelicopter near Gatlinburg, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016.Thousands of people raced through a hell-like landscape to escapewildfires that killed several people and destroyed hundreds ofhomes in the Great Smoky Mountains. (AP Photo/ErikSchelzig)

A burned out building smolders in Gatlinburg,Tenn. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig)

Burned out frames side-by-side utility vehicles sit at theside of the road in Gatlinburg, Tenn. The fatal wildfiresswept over the tourist town the night before, causing widespreaddamage. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig)

A scorched vehicle sits next to a burned out building inGatlinburg, Tenn. Thousands of people raced through ahell-like landscape to escape wildfires that killed several peopleand destroyed hundreds of homes in the Great Smoky Mountains. (APPhoto/Erik Schelzig)

Burned structures are seen from aboard a National Guardhelicopter near Gatlinburg, Tenn., on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016. (APPhoto/Erik Schelzig)

A destroyed home seen from aboard a National Guardhelicopter near Gatlinburg, Tenn. (AP Photo/ErikSchelzig)

Law enforcement vehicles drive through the smoke nearstructures destroyed by wildfires in Gatlinburg, Tenn., Tuesday,Nov. 29, 2016.

People inspect the remains of a home burned by a wildfirenear Gatlinburg, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

A swimming pool in a motel complex shows burn marksWednesday, Nov. 30, 2016, in Gatlinburg, Tenn., after a wildfireswept through the area Monday. Three more bodies were found in theruins of wildfires that torched hundreds of homes and businesses inthe Great Smoky Mountains area, officials said Wednesday. (APPhoto/Mark Humphrey)

Smokes rises out of the remains of a burned-outbusiness. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

A burned car sits in a parking lot Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016,in Gatlinburg, Tenn., after a wildfire swept through the areaMonday. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)