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| Tornado flattens town in Kansas | Tornado flattens town in Kansas |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A massive tornado killed at least nine people and flattened almost all of a small town in Kansas on Friday. | |
| More than 60 people were injured when the tornado - said to be up to 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. |
| More than 95% of the 1,500-population town was destroyed, including the hospital and schools as well as homes, local officials said. | More than 95% of the 1,500-population town was destroyed, including the hospital and schools as well as homes, local officials said. |
| A new wave of tornadoes hit southwest Kansas on Saturday evening, affecting at least six counties. | A new wave of tornadoes hit southwest Kansas on Saturday evening, affecting at least six counties. |
| The National Weather Service forecast the development of strong tornadoes in central Kansas and Nebraska during Saturday night. | The National Weather Service forecast the development of strong tornadoes in central Kansas and Nebraska during Saturday night. |
| Earlier, a tornado in central Nebraska damaged buildings and power lines, officials said. | Earlier, a tornado in central Nebraska damaged buildings and power lines, officials said. |
| Direct hit | Direct hit |
| Greensburg, around 120 miles (200km) west of Wichita in southern Kansas, received a direct hit by the tornado late on Friday. | Greensburg, around 120 miles (200km) west of Wichita in southern Kansas, received a direct hit by the tornado late on Friday. |
| The tornado was described as a "wedge", a particularly wide formation carrying winds of up to 250mph (400km/h). | The tornado was described as a "wedge", a particularly wide formation carrying winds of up to 250mph (400km/h). |
| You could hear the top half of our house start tearing up Greensburg resident href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6620000/newsid_6628800?redirect=6628837.stm&news=1&bbram=1&bbwm=1&nbwm=1&nbram=1">Aftermath of tornado | |
| Storm chaser Darin Brunin told CNN that the tornado appeared to be at least a mile in diameter. | Storm chaser Darin Brunin told CNN that the tornado appeared to be at least a mile in diameter. |
| "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. |
| 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. |
| The storm ripped homes from their foundations and even damaged basement shelters. | The storm ripped homes from their foundations and even damaged basement shelters. |
| "You could hear the top half of our house start tearing up," one man said. | "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." | "We were under a bed in the basement. We were just fine, but windows were breaking and smashing." |
| One of the few buildings still standing is the courthouse. The city hall, schools, businesses as well as homes were destroyed. | One of the few buildings still standing is the courthouse. The city hall, schools, businesses as well as homes were destroyed. |
| At least eight people died in Kiowa County, where Greensburg is located, and one in the neighbouring Pratt County, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Adjutant General's Department said. | At least eight people died in Kiowa County, where Greensburg is located, and one in the neighbouring Pratt County, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Adjutant General's Department said. |
| Sharon Watson said officials were looking into reports of two further storm-related deaths in the area. | Sharon Watson said officials were looking into reports of two further storm-related deaths in the area. |
| 'Catastrophe' | 'Catastrophe' |
| Rescuers spent Saturday combing through the wreckage for both victims and survivors. | Rescuers spent Saturday combing through the wreckage for both victims and survivors. |
| Thirty survivors were reportedly pulled from the rubble of the town's partially-collapsed hospital. | Thirty survivors were reportedly pulled from the rubble of the town's partially-collapsed hospital. |
| Residents were evacuated and the National Guard brought in to provide security. | Residents were evacuated and the National Guard brought in to provide security. |
| "This is a huge catastrophe for this small town," City Administrator Steve Hewitt told a news conference. | "This is a huge catastrophe for this small town," City Administrator Steve Hewitt told a news conference. |
| "My home's gone, my staff's homes are gone." | "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." | "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." |
| Mr Hewitt estimated that 95% of the town had been destroyed and warned that it could take days for rescuers to reach survivors trapped in basements and under rubble. | Mr Hewitt estimated that 95% of the town had been destroyed and warned that it could take days for rescuers to reach survivors trapped in basements and under rubble. |
| He warned the death toll could rise. | He warned the death toll could rise. |
| Are you a resident of Greensburg? Do you know anyone affected by the tornado? Use the form below to send us details. | Are you a resident of Greensburg? Do you know anyone affected by the tornado? Use the form below to send us details. |