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Race to rescue US storm victims Food drops for US storm victims
(about 11 hours later)
Rescue workers in central parts of the US are searching for stranded travellers after a major snowstorm caused chaos through the region. National Guard helicopters have been dropping food and hay bales in central parts of the US for people and cattle stranded by a major snowstorm.
National Guard troops have been mobilised in several states and aerial searches are under way in parts of Colorado and Kansas. The blizzard, which began on Friday, brought up to 35 inches (90cm) of snow to parts of the region.
The storm, which began last week, is thought to have caused 12 deaths. At least 12 deaths have been blamed on the weather, and farmers fear the heavy snow could kill thousands of cattle.
Thousands of people are without electricity. A state of emergency has been declared in Kansas and New Mexico. The states of Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska and Oklahoma have all been badly affected.
It is the second blizzard to hit the region in as many weeks. The National Weather Centre said better conditions were expected for later this week in all areas affected.It is the second blizzard to hit the region in as many weeks. The National Weather Centre said better conditions were expected for later this week in all areas affected.
Aerial sweep Livestock fears
The storm dumped up to 35 inches (90cm) of snow in the region on Friday. Snowdrifts reached 10ft (3m) in some areas. The snowstorm has left thousands of people without electricity, while telecommunications have also been affected.
Hundreds of flights were cancelled at Denver's main airport and Interstate 25 - the main road through the state - was closed. The largest amount of snow fell in areas of western Kansas and eastern Colorado, and high winds caused drifts of up to 15 feet (5m).
Six planes flew over south-eastern Colorado on Monday, searching for people and animals still trapped by the snow. National Guardsmen used snowmobiles to reach people trapped in their homes, while helicopters dropped military rations outside some houses.
Several of them carried heat-seeking equipment and authorities were considering using cargo planes to transport food to stranded livestock. Pilots have been using heat-seeking equipment to locate cattle and began dropping hay to remote herds on Tuesday.
Colorado's agriculture director, Don Ament, warned that some cattle had already gone several days without food and water.
"They're just going to lay over dead if we don't do something soon," he said.
Terry Fankhauser of the Colorado Cattlemen's Association said some cattle had died, but preparations before the storm might have curbed losses.
"The final tally of any impact related to livestock death will be later in the week as snow starts to melt off," he said.
The storm caused the cancellation of hundreds of flights from Denver's main airport over the weekend and Interstate 25 - the main road through Colorado state - was closed.
A few roads remained blocked on Tuesday although work was continuing to clear the snow.A few roads remained blocked on Tuesday although work was continuing to clear the snow.
Twelve people were killed by the storm - mostly as a result of traffic accidents caused by the hazardous conditions.Twelve people were killed by the storm - mostly as a result of traffic accidents caused by the hazardous conditions.