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Oklahoma ravaged by deadly tornadoes | Oklahoma ravaged by deadly tornadoes |
(about 1 hour later) | |
At least one person has died and 21 were injured in a series of tornadoes that have torn through the US state of Oklahoma. | |
The worst damage was caused by a twister near the town of Shawnee, 35 miles (55km) from Oklahoma City. | |
A mobile home park near Shawnee is said to have been razed and thousands in the area are without power. | |
Tornadoes, hail and high winds also hit Iowa and Kansas, part of a storm system stretching from Texas to Minnesota. | Tornadoes, hail and high winds also hit Iowa and Kansas, part of a storm system stretching from Texas to Minnesota. |
The National Weather Service (NWS) says that there is a continuing risk of dangerous thunderstorms in the region that could produce hail and tornadoes on Monday afternoon. | |
'Everything is gone' | |
In Oklahoma, a tornado smashed a trailer park on Highway 102 near Shawnee. | In Oklahoma, a tornado smashed a trailer park on Highway 102 near Shawnee. |
Steelman Estates Mobile Home Park resident James Hoke said he had emerged from a storm cellar with his family to find their mobile home vanished. | |
"Everything is gone," he said. | |
As he tried to help neighbours, Mr Hoke said he found his wife's father covered in rubble. | |
"My father-in-law was buried under the house. We had to pull Sheetrock off of him," Mr Hoke said. | |
Pottawatomie County Sheriff Mike Booth confirmed a 79-year-old man was found dead out in the open at Steelman Estates. | |
"This is the worst I've seen in Pottawatomie County in my 25 years of law enforcement," the sheriff added. | |
The massive storm system prompted the NWS to issue a blunt warning to residents in the affected states. | |
The agency said: "You could be killed if not underground or in a tornado shelter. Complete destruction of neighbourhoods, businesses and vehicles will occur." | |
Another resident, Amber Ash, said her home was hit by a tornado as she waited in a storm shelter. | |
"Once it passed, we got out and saw the devastation. Everything I had was destroyed." | "Once it passed, we got out and saw the devastation. Everything I had was destroyed." |
Thousands of residents in the affected areas have been left without power. | Thousands of residents in the affected areas have been left without power. |
Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin said a state of emergency had been declared in 16 counties to enable help to get to the worst-hit parts of Oklahoma. | Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin said a state of emergency had been declared in 16 counties to enable help to get to the worst-hit parts of Oklahoma. |
At least four tornadoes ravaged the state on Sunday, part of a storm system that was moving north-east across the Midwestern states and Texas. | At least four tornadoes ravaged the state on Sunday, part of a storm system that was moving north-east across the Midwestern states and Texas. |
"Right now we're in a rescue and recovery stage," Gov Fallin said. "We're still not in the clear yet." | "Right now we're in a rescue and recovery stage," Gov Fallin said. "We're still not in the clear yet." |
Separately, a tornado with an estimated 110mph wind speed touched down near Wichita's Mid-Continent airport, knocking out power to thousands of homes and businesses but bypassing the most populated areas of Kansas' largest city. | |
Presenters of a local afternoon news programme were forced to evacuate during a live broadcast as the tornado touched down. | |
Meteorologists warn that the extreme weather is expected to continue on Monday, with a moderate risk of hail storms and tornadoes in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri. | |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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