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US clean-up after lethal storms | US clean-up after lethal storms |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A major clean-up operation is under way in several states in America's south and mid-west after tornadoes and storms left at least 20 dead. | |
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. | |
US President George W Bush is due to visit some affected areas on Saturday. | |
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. |
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. |
class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5695&edition=1&ttl=20070302083822">Send us your experiences class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6410459.stm">In pictures: Alabama town hit class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/6410697.stm">'I was sitting and praying' "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 visited the high school on Friday, said Enterprise had suffered "major and widespread damage". | |
"Everything I've seen today - the damage is truly remarkable," he told reporters. "To sum it up, it is horrific. I am truly amazed we didn't have more loss of life." | |
He said he would deploy 100 National Guard soldiers to help with recovery efforts. | |
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. |
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. |
President Bush is expected to make stops in Georgia and Alabama on Saturday but White House officials have not yet confirmed where. | |
The tornadoes caused damage across several states | |
Mr Bush said: "Tomorrow I'm going down to Georgia and Alabama. I go down with a heavy heart. | |
"I go down knowing full well that I'll be seeing people whose lives were turned upside down by the tornadoes. I'll do my very best to comfort them." | |
In all, the US National Weather Service received 31 reports of tornadoes on Thursday from Missouri, Illinois, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. | |
A seven-year-old girl died as some of the first tornadoes touched down in Missouri around dawn. | |
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. |
Roads were also closed and flights cancelled in eastern Canada after heavy snow storms. | |
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 | 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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