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US clean-up after lethal storms | US clean-up after lethal storms |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Rescue efforts are under way in several states in America's south and mid-west after a series of tornadoes left at least 20 people dead. | Rescue efforts are under way in several states in America's south and mid-west after a series of tornadoes left at least 20 people dead. |
Hardest hit was Alabama, where at least eight people died when a tornado struck a high school building on Thursday. | Hardest hit was Alabama, where at least eight people died when a tornado struck a high school building on Thursday. |
Nine more people died in Georgia, two of whom were killed when another tornado hit near a regional hospital. | Nine more people died in Georgia, two of whom were killed when another tornado hit near a regional hospital. |
The tornadoes were part of a major storm system that stretched across a swathe of the United States. | The tornadoes were part of a major storm system that stretched across a swathe of the United States. |
Where the tornadoes hit in southern US | Where the tornadoes hit in southern US |
The US Storm Prediction Center (SPC) had earlier issued a rare "major severe weather outbreak" warning for the eastern third of the US. | The US Storm Prediction Center (SPC) had earlier issued a rare "major severe weather outbreak" warning for the eastern third of the US. |
'Direct hit' | 'Direct hit' |
Some of the worst of the destruction was reported in Enterprise, Alabama. | Some of the worst of the destruction was reported in Enterprise, Alabama. |
Send us your experiences In pictures: Alabama town hit 'I was sitting and praying' | Send us your experiences In pictures: Alabama town hit 'I was sitting and praying' |
Eight teenagers who were inside the local high school died as winds blew out walls and collapsed part of the roof. | Eight teenagers who were inside the local high school died as winds blew out walls and collapsed part of the roof. |
"They were in one particular wing which took a direct hit," Enterprise Mayor Kenneth Boswell said. | "They were in one particular wing which took a direct hit," Enterprise Mayor Kenneth Boswell said. |
One other person in Enterprise died and at least 40 people were injured as the tornado, travelling at over 50mph (80km/h), swept through the town. | One other person in Enterprise died and at least 40 people were injured as the tornado, travelling at over 50mph (80km/h), swept through the town. |
Alabama Governor Bob Riley, who is to visit the school, has declared a state of emergency and sent 100 National Guard troops to the town. | Alabama Governor Bob Riley, who is to visit the school, has declared a state of emergency and sent 100 National Guard troops to the town. |
"Enterprise has suffered major and widespread damage," he said. | "Enterprise has suffered major and widespread damage," he said. |
A tenth person died in the town of Millers Ferry, in another part of the state, where high winds felled trees and flipped trailers. | A tenth person died in the town of Millers Ferry, in another part of the state, where high winds felled trees and flipped trailers. |
How a tornado is formed | How a tornado is formed |
Later in the day, at least nine people died in neighbouring Georgia. | Later in the day, at least nine people died in neighbouring Georgia. |
Two people were killed and several more injured when a tornado struck near the Sumter regional hospital in Americus, Georgia, the state's emergency management agency said. | Two people were killed and several more injured when a tornado struck near the Sumter regional hospital in Americus, Georgia, the state's emergency management agency said. |
It was not clear whether the dead were patients. At the hospital, windows were shattered and cars had been thrown around. The ambulance fleet was reportedly destroyed. | It was not clear whether the dead were patients. At the hospital, windows were shattered and cars had been thrown around. The ambulance fleet was reportedly destroyed. |
A third person was reported killed in Taylor County, to the north, and six others in the southwest. | A third person was reported killed in Taylor County, to the north, and six others in the southwest. |
The tornadoes caused damage across several states | The tornadoes caused damage across several states |
Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue was to fly to the affected areas to assess the damage, his spokesman said. | Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue was to fly to the affected areas to assess the damage, his spokesman said. |
Earlier, a seven-year-old girl died as some of the first tornadoes touched down in Missouri around dawn on Thursday. Others were reported in Arkansas and Kansas. | Earlier, a seven-year-old girl died as some of the first tornadoes touched down in Missouri around dawn on Thursday. Others were reported in Arkansas and Kansas. |
The severe weather formed a band of storms stretching from Minnesota in the north to Louisiana on the Gulf Coast. | The severe weather formed a band of storms stretching from Minnesota in the north to Louisiana on the Gulf Coast. |
Further north, several mid-western states were hit by heavy snow and blizzards, which closed hundreds of miles of major roads. | Further north, several mid-western states were hit by heavy snow and blizzards, which closed hundreds of miles of major roads. |
Two people died when their car overturned on a slippery road in North Dakota, and another was killed while shovelling snow in Nebraska, the Associated Press reported. | Two people died when their car overturned on a slippery road in North Dakota, and another was killed while shovelling snow in Nebraska, the Associated Press reported. |
TORNADOES REPORTED IN THE US People killed by tornadoes in southern US Enterprise, Alabama: Eight dead at school, one elsewhereMillers Ferry, Alabama: One deadAmericus, Georgia: Two killed when tornado struck hospitalTaylor County, Georgia: One deadSouth-west Georgia: A further six people reported deadMissouri: Seven-year-old girl killed | |
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