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Oklahoma tornado: Dozens killed in Moore | Oklahoma tornado: Dozens killed in Moore |
(35 minutes later) | |
At least 51 people, including 20 children, have been left dead after a huge tornado 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. There are fears that the death toll will rise further. | About 120 people are being treated in hospitals. There are fears that the death toll will rise further. |
President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in Oklahoma. | President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in Oklahoma. |
He also ordered the federal authorities to join in the search and recovery efforts which are continuing throughout the night. | He also ordered the federal authorities to join in the search and recovery efforts which are continuing throughout the night. |
'Absolutely horrific' | 'Absolutely horrific' |
Monday's twister hit Moore, a suburb of about 55,000 people, and remained on the ground for about 45 minutes. | Monday's twister hit Moore, a suburb of about 55,000 people, and remained on the ground for about 45 minutes. |
The Oklahoma chief medical examiner's office said 20 children were among the 51 confirmed dead. | The Oklahoma chief medical examiner's office said 20 children were among the 51 confirmed dead. |
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 Lt Gov Todd Lamb told the BBC. | "The school was flattened. The walls were pancaked in," Oklahoma's Lt Gov 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. |
Oklahoma Gov Mary Fallin said it was a "tragic" day. | Oklahoma Gov 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. |
'Most powerful tornado' | 'Most powerful tornado' |
Shocked survivors spoke of the tornado's power. | Shocked survivors spoke of the tornado's power. |
"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 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 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 rushed 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 rushed 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 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. |
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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