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Massive tornado rips through Oklahoma City suburbs Massive tornado rips through Oklahoma City suburbs
(35 minutes later)
A gigantic tornado has ripped through a suburb of Oklahoma City, on the second day in a row the Midwestern state of Oklahoma has been slammed by twisters.A gigantic tornado has ripped through a suburb of Oklahoma City, on the second day in a row the Midwestern state of Oklahoma has been slammed by twisters.
The "mile-wide" storm destroyed a primary school, sparked fires, and flattened homes.The "mile-wide" storm destroyed a primary school, sparked fires, and flattened homes.
On Sunday, at least two people died and 21 more were injured by the tornadoes. Scores of primary school children are believed to be trapped under the debris, local media reported.
The worst damage was in Shawnee, 35 miles (55km) from Oklahoma City, where a mobile home part was razed and thousands have lost electricity. On Sunday, at least two people died and 21 more were injured by the tornadoes that also razed a mobile home park.
Children are being pulled alive from the wreckage of Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, Oklahoma, a suburb just south of Oklahoma City where the twister struck about 16:00 local time (22:00 BST) on Monday.
There have been no reports of children injured or killed there.
Volunteers and first responders could be seen picking through the rubble in aerial news footage.
The National Weather Service (NWS) said Monday's tornado generated winds of up to 200mph (321km/h).
"It's going to take awhile to recover from something like this," Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole told CNN."It's going to take awhile to recover from something like this," Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole told CNN.
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 there is a continuing risk of dangerous thunderstorms in the region that could produce hail and tornadoes on Monday afternoon.
'Everything is gone''Everything is gone'
On Sunday, a tornado smashed a trailer park on Highway 102 near Shawnee.On Sunday, 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.
Oklahoma's state medical examiner confirmed on Monday that two people had been killed near the trailer park: Glen Irish, 79, and Billy Hutchinson, 76.Oklahoma's state medical examiner confirmed on Monday that two people had been killed near the trailer park: Glen Irish, 79, and Billy Hutchinson, 76.
Both lived in Shawnee, but it was not immediately clear if either or both lived in mobile home park.Both lived in Shawnee, but it was not immediately clear if either or both lived in mobile home park.
The Oklahoman newspaper reported that five people were brought to Norman Regional Hospital for injuries, with three injured critically.The Oklahoman newspaper reported that five people were brought to Norman Regional Hospital for injuries, with three injured critically.
"This is the worst I've seen in Pottawatomie County in my 25 years of law enforcement," county Sheriff Mike Booth said.
The massive storm system had prompted the NWS to issue a blunt warning to residents in the affected states.
"You could be killed if not underground or in a tornado shelter," the agency warned. "Complete destruction of neighbourhoods, businesses and vehicles will occur."
One resident, Amber Ash, said her home had been hit by a tornado as she waited in a storm shelter.
"Once it passed, we got out and saw the devastation," she said. "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 declared a state of emergency in 16 counties in order to send aid to the worst-hit parts of the state.Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin declared a state of emergency in 16 counties in order to send aid to the worst-hit parts of the state.
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."
A twister with an estimated 110mph (177km/h) wind speed touched down on Sunday afternoon near Wichita's Mid-Continent airport. Presenters of a local afternoon news programme were forced to evacuate during a live broadcast as the tornado touched down on Sunday.
It knocked out power to thousands of homes and businesses, but bypassed 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.
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