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Deadly tornado hits Kansas town Tornado flattens town in Kansas
(about 4 hours later)
A tornado has killed at least seven people and flattened much of a small town in southern Kansas, officials say.A tornado has killed at least seven people and flattened much of a small town in southern Kansas, officials say.
More than 60 people were injured when the tornado - described as being a mile wide - hit the town of Greensburg. More than 60 people were injured when the tornado - said to be up to a mile wide - hit the town of Greensburg.
About 90% of the 1,600-population town had been destroyed, including the hospital and schools as well as homes, Red Cross officials said. More than 90% of the 1,600-population town has been destroyed, including the hospital and schools as well as homes, Red Cross officials said.
Residents have been evacuated and the National Guard brought in to provide security as rescue efforts continue. Meteorological officials are warning of more severe weather to come for America's mid-west on Saturday.
The storm made a direct hit on Greensburg, around 120 miles (200km) west of Wichita, late on Friday. A tornado warning has been issued for Nebraska, north of Kansas.
I don't think we have a business left downtown Steve HewittCity Administrator Greensburg, around 120 miles (200km) west of Wichita, received a direct hit by the tornado late on Friday.
You could hear the top half of our house start tearing up Greensburg resident Aftermath of tornado
Residents are being evacuated and the National Guard brought in to provide security as rescue efforts continue.
Many people are feared to be still trapped in basement shelters, City Administrator Steve Hewitt said. He warned the death toll could rise.
"This is a huge catastrophe for this small town," he told a news conference. "My home's gone, my staff's homes are gone.
"We've got to find a way to get this to work and come to work every day and get this thing back on its feet. It's going to be tough."
Pulled from rubble
Residents said warning sirens went off 20 minutes before the tornado struck, giving them a chance to get to storm shelters.Residents said warning sirens went off 20 minutes before the tornado struck, giving them a chance to get to storm shelters.
One woman driver described stopping outside a shop and taking shelter in the shop owner's large walk-in freezer with several others. The fierce storm ripped homes from their foundations and even damaged basement shelters.
When they came out, the store had gone, she told the Associated Press. "You could hear the top half of our house start tearing up," one man said. "We were under a bed in the basement. We were just fine, but windows were breaking and smashing."
House-to-house One of the few buildings still standing is the courthouse. The city hall, schools, businesses as well as homes were destroyed.
Along with people's homes, much of the centre of the town had been destroyed, including the city hall and the two schools, City Administrator Steve Hewitt said. At least six people died in Kiowa County, where Greensburg is located, and one in a neighbouring county, Kansas officials said.
"I don't think we have a business left downtown," he was quoted by AP as saying.
Emergency teams from across Kansas raced to Greensburg to help the survivors.Emergency teams from across Kansas raced to Greensburg to help the survivors.
Rescuers with dogs went from house to house in search of anyone who was trapped or injured.
Thirty survivors were reported to have been pulled from the rubble of the town's partially-collapsed hospital.Thirty survivors were reported to have been pulled from the rubble of the town's partially-collapsed hospital.
Red Cross officials were using school buses to take people to shelters in nearby towns.Red Cross officials were using school buses to take people to shelters in nearby towns.
The National Weather Service described the tornado as a "wedge", a particularly wide formation carrying winds of up to 250mph (400km/h).
Storm chaser Darin Brunin told CNN that the tornado appeared to be at least a mile wide.Storm chaser Darin Brunin told CNN that the tornado appeared to be at least a mile wide.
"A big tornado like that, that moves slower, it can tend to do a lot more damage because it's over an area for a longer amount of time," he said."A big tornado like that, that moves slower, it can tend to do a lot more damage because it's over an area for a longer amount of time," he said.
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