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US state starts tornado clean-up Kansas tornado death toll rises
(about 4 hours later)
Efforts are under way to clean up a small town in the central US state of Kansas devastated by a massive tornado. Two more victims have been found in a small town devastated by a huge tornado in the central US state of Kansas.
The head of the US emergency agency is due to visit Greensburg, as work begins to clear the debris and many residents are allowed back in for the first time. The discovery of one body under rubble and another in a nearby lake takes the death toll to at least 10, officials in the town of Greensburg said.
Friday's tornado killed nine people and hurt dozens more. An estimated 95% of homes and businesses in the town of 1,500 have been damaged or destroyed. Rescue teams also found a survivor on Sunday and are continuing to search for anyone trapped since Friday's storm.
US President George W Bush has declared parts of Kansas a major disaster area. Many residents have been allowed back for the first time to assess damage to their homes and retrieve possessions.
Speaking in Washington on Sunday, he also pledged federal aid for reconstruction. They have been told they can only stay until dusk, when they must leave for the shelters where most are staying in nearby towns.
"I'm confident this community will be rebuilt, to the extent we can help, we will," he said. The authorities have been checking residents' names in an attempt to find out whether more people may be missing.
An estimated 95% of homes and businesses in Greensburg, a town of about 1,500 people, have been damaged or destroyed.
A further two people died elsewhere in the state in the course of a weekend of violent storms.
Efforts 'handicapped'Efforts 'handicapped'
City administrator Steve Hewitt confirmed the discovery of two more bodies in Greensburg.
"That's why we are continuing the search and recovery," he said. "We will continue this through today and tomorrow and hopefully we will find more folks alive."
The search efforts were delayed on Monday by a leak of anhydrous ammonia, used as fertiliser by farmers, which meant rescue workers had to evacuate part of the town.
Speaking on Sunday, US President George W Bush declared parts of Kansas a major disaster area and pledged federal aid for reconstruction.
R David Paulison, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), is expected to tour the area on Monday.R David Paulison, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), is expected to tour the area on Monday.
Fema is working to set up trailers to house families left homeless when winds of up to 205mph (330km/h) tore buildings from their foundations in Greensburg.Fema is working to set up trailers to house families left homeless when winds of up to 205mph (330km/h) tore buildings from their foundations in Greensburg.
Many residents were taking their first look at the damage on Monday, having been told to stay away over the weekend as rescue workers hunted for survivors and victims.
Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius also visited the town, which lies about 120 miles (200km) west of Wichita in southern Kansas.Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius also visited the town, which lies about 120 miles (200km) west of Wichita in southern Kansas.
She said the state's response would be negatively affected because emergency equipment such as trucks, tents and trailers had been sent to Iraq.She said the state's response would be negatively affected because emergency equipment such as trucks, tents and trailers had been sent to Iraq.
"Not having the National Guard equipment, which used to be positioned in various parts of the state, to bring in immediately is really going to handicap this effort to rebuild," she said, the Associated Press news agency reports."Not having the National Guard equipment, which used to be positioned in various parts of the state, to bring in immediately is really going to handicap this effort to rebuild," she said, the Associated Press news agency reports.
Heavy equipment will be needed to move the large amounts of debris left by the tornado, which was classified by the National Weather Service as an F-5, the most powerful category.Heavy equipment will be needed to move the large amounts of debris left by the tornado, which was classified by the National Weather Service as an F-5, the most powerful category.
The tornado was described as a "wedge", a particularly wide formation said to be - in this instance - more than one mile in diameter.The tornado was described as a "wedge", a particularly wide formation said to be - in this instance - more than one mile in diameter.
Flood riskFlood risk
There were confirmed reports of several more tornadoes in the state over the weekend.There were confirmed reports of several more tornadoes in the state over the weekend.
A man died in Ottawa County, 250 miles northeast of Greensburg, state officials said, and 11 people were injured in the town of Osborne when a tornado hit two restaurants.A man died in Ottawa County, 250 miles northeast of Greensburg, state officials said, and 11 people were injured in the town of Osborne when a tornado hit two restaurants.
Several homes were damaged and one person was injured by a tornado in western Oklahoma.Several homes were damaged and one person was injured by a tornado in western Oklahoma.
Heavy rain continued to sweep the central US on Monday, creating a risk of flooding in some areas. Heavy rain continued to sweep the central US on Monday, leading to flooding in areas including Topeka, capital of Kansas, and south-west Iowa.
National Guard soldiers have been sent to the area to provide security and to start clearing the debris left by the storm.National Guard soldiers have been sent to the area to provide security and to start clearing the debris left by the storm.
Major General Todd Bunting, the adjutant general for Kansas, told CNN that search and rescue experts had been through Greensburg twice looking for anyone trapped in the rubble and would continue the hunt on Monday.
City Administrator Steve Hewitt estimated that 95% of the town had been destroyed.
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.