This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/6632629.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Kansas tornado death toll rises Kansas counts dead from tornado
(1 day later)
Two more victims have been found in a small town devastated by a huge tornado in the central US state of Kansas. Emergency workers are continuing efforts to clear up a small town in the US state of Kansas that was flattened by a tornado over the weekend.
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. Nine people are now known to have died when the tornado hit Greensburg.
Rescue teams also found a survivor on Sunday and are continuing to search for anyone trapped since Friday's storm. Officials revised an earlier death toll of 10, saying a wig found in the rubble was mistaken for a body part. But there are fears people may still be missing.
Many residents have been allowed back for the first time to assess damage to their homes and retrieve possessions. Residents were allowed back for the first time on Monday to assess the damage and retrieve possessions.
They have been told they can only stay until dusk, when they must leave for the shelters where most are staying in nearby towns.
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.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. Another two people died in violent storms elsewhere in Kansas state over the weekend.
Efforts 'handicapped'Efforts 'handicapped'
City administrator Steve Hewitt confirmed the discovery of two more bodies in Greensburg. 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.
"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.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. He is due to visit the area on Wednesday.
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.
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. The Democrat said the state's response would inevitably be 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 EF-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. Several other tornadoes hit 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, northeast of Greensburg, state officials said, and another person was killed in Pratt County.
Eleven 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, leading to flooding in areas including Topeka, capital of Kansas, and south-west Iowa. Heavy rain continued to sweep across the middle of the country 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.
One of the few buildings still standing is the courthouse. The city hall, schools, businesses as well as homes were destroyed.