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Oklahoma tornado: Dozens killed in Moore | Oklahoma tornado: Dozens killed in Moore |
(35 minutes later) | |
At least 91 people, including 20 children, are feared to have been killed by a huge tornado which tore through Oklahoma City suburbs, officials in the US state say. | At least 91 people, including 20 children, are feared to have been killed by a huge tornado which tore through Oklahoma City suburbs, officials in the US state say. |
Worst hit was Moore, south of the city, where neighbourhoods were flattened and schools destroyed by winds of up to 200mph (320km/h). | Worst hit was Moore, south of the city, where neighbourhoods were flattened and schools destroyed by winds of up to 200mph (320km/h). |
About 120 people are being treated in hospitals. | About 120 people are being treated in hospitals. |
President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in Oklahoma. | President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in Oklahoma. |
He also ordered federal authorities to join in the search efforts which have continued throughout the night. | He also ordered federal authorities to join in the search efforts which have continued throughout the night. |
Monday's twister hit Moore, a suburb of about 55,000 people, at 14:56 (19:56 GMT) and remained on the ground for about 45 minutes. | Monday's twister hit Moore, a suburb of about 55,000 people, at 14:56 (19:56 GMT) and remained on the ground for about 45 minutes. |
The official death toll is 51, but local authorities say the figure is expected to rise as another 40 bodies have been found. | The official death toll is 51, but local authorities say the figure is expected to rise as another 40 bodies have been found. |
At least 20 children were among the dead, the Oklahoma chief medical examiner's office said. | At least 20 children were among the dead, the Oklahoma chief medical examiner's office said. |
Plaza Towers Elementary school took a direct hit: the storm tore off the building's roof and knocked down walls. | Plaza Towers Elementary school took a direct hit: the storm tore off the building's roof and knocked down walls. |
"The school was flattened. The walls were pancaked in," Oklahoma's Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb told the BBC. | "The school was flattened. The walls were pancaked in," Oklahoma's Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb told the BBC. |
"There's still roughly two dozen children that are missing. There have been some bodies recovered from that school and it's absolutely horrific and devastating." | "There's still roughly two dozen children that are missing. There have been some bodies recovered from that school and it's absolutely horrific and devastating." |
Another school - Briarwood Elementary - was also damaged, and teachers were later seen leading pupils out to safety. | Another school - Briarwood Elementary - was also damaged, and teachers were later seen leading pupils out to safety. |
Lt Gov Lamb said Moore had been prepared for a tornado, but not of this strength: "There was a warning in place, but when it veers and is as extensive as this one is - two miles wide - on the ground for 45 minutes, that is just wreaking havoc that it's hard to get out of the way of." | Lt Gov Lamb said Moore had been prepared for a tornado, but not of this strength: "There was a warning in place, but when it veers and is as extensive as this one is - two miles wide - on the ground for 45 minutes, that is just wreaking havoc that it's hard to get out of the way of." |
Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin said it was a "tragic" day. | Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin said it was a "tragic" day. |
More than 200 Oklahoma National Guardsmen as well as out-of-state personnel have been called in to assist the search-and-rescue effort. | More than 200 Oklahoma National Guardsmen as well as out-of-state personnel have been called in to assist the search-and-rescue effort. |
The storm destroyed several areas, leaving a tangle of ruined buildings, piles of broken wood, overturned and crushed cars, and fires in some places. | The storm destroyed several areas, leaving a tangle of ruined buildings, piles of broken wood, overturned and crushed cars, and fires in some places. |
The BBC's Alastair Leithead in Oklahoma says many tornadoes in the region hit the open plain, but this one struck a residential area. | The BBC's Alastair Leithead in Oklahoma says many tornadoes in the region hit the open plain, but this one struck a residential area. |
Many houses are built on hard ground without basements, so residents did not have recourse to shelter, our correspondent adds. | Many houses are built on hard ground without basements, so residents did not have recourse to shelter, our correspondent adds. |
'School coming apart' | 'School coming apart' |
"We locked the cellar door once we saw it coming, it got louder and next thing you know is you see the latch coming undone," survivor Ricky Stover said. | "We locked the cellar door once we saw it coming, it got louder and next thing you know is you see the latch coming undone," survivor Ricky Stover said. |
"We couldn't reach for it and it ripped open the door and just glass and debris started slamming on us and we thought we were dead, to be honest." | "We couldn't reach for it and it ripped open the door and just glass and debris started slamming on us and we thought we were dead, to be honest." |
Melissa Newton, another survivor, said: "There's shingles and pieces of sheet rock and wood in our yard and all across our neighbourhood. Some homes are completely gone. It's devastating." | Melissa Newton, another survivor, said: "There's shingles and pieces of sheet rock and wood in our yard and all across our neighbourhood. Some homes are completely gone. It's devastating." |
James Rushing said he had hurried to Plaza Towers Elementary School, where his foster son Aiden was a pupil, to see it destroyed by the storm. | James Rushing said he had hurried to Plaza Towers Elementary School, where his foster son Aiden was a pupil, to see it destroyed by the storm. |
"About two minutes after I got there, the school started coming apart," he told the Associated Press news agency. | "About two minutes after I got there, the school started coming apart," he told the Associated Press news agency. |
The National Weather Service (NWS) said Monday's tornado had generated winds of up to 200mph. | The National Weather Service (NWS) said Monday's tornado had generated winds of up to 200mph. |
"It's certainly the most powerful tornado that I've ever dealt with in my 20 years with the weather service," NWS meteorologist Rick Smith in Norman, Oklahoma, told the BBC. | "It's certainly the most powerful tornado that I've ever dealt with in my 20 years with the weather service," NWS meteorologist Rick Smith in Norman, Oklahoma, told the BBC. |
The NWS said the tornado measured EF-4 on the five-point Fujita scale - the second most powerful type. | The NWS said the tornado measured EF-4 on the five-point Fujita scale - the second most powerful type. |
The town of Moore was hit by a severe tornado in May 1999, which had the highest winds ever recorded on Earth. | The town of Moore was hit by a severe tornado in May 1999, which had the highest winds ever recorded on Earth. |
But Betsy Randolph of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol told local news station Skynews 9 that the damage on Monday appeared to exceed that of the 1999 tornado. | But Betsy Randolph of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol told local news station Skynews 9 that the damage on Monday appeared to exceed that of the 1999 tornado. |
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. |
On Sunday, a tornado smashed a trailer park on Highway 102 near Shawnee, Oklahoma. | On Sunday, a tornado smashed a trailer park on Highway 102 near Shawnee, Oklahoma. |
Oklahoma's state medical examiner confirmed earlier on Monday that two people had been killed in the area. | Oklahoma's state medical examiner confirmed earlier on Monday that two people had been killed in the area. |
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