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| Vast Oklahoma Tornado Kills at Least 51 | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MOORE, Okla. — A giant tornado, a mile wide or more, killed more than four dozen people as it tore through this Oklahoma City suburb Monday afternoon, flattening homes, flinging cars through the air and crushing at least two schools packed with children. | |
| As the injured began flooding into hospitals, the authorities said many remained trapped, even as rescue workers were struggling to make their way through debris-clogged streets to the devastated suburb of Moore, where much of the damage occurred. | As the injured began flooding into hospitals, the authorities said many remained trapped, even as rescue workers were struggling to make their way through debris-clogged streets to the devastated suburb of Moore, where much of the damage occurred. |
| At least 51 people were killed in the storm, according to a spokesperson for the Oklahoma City medical examiner. | |
| At Briarwood Elementary School in Oklahoma City, on the border with Moore, cars were thrown through the facade and the roof was torn off. A short distance away, at Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, rescue workers struggled to tear through rubble amid reports that dozens of students were trapped. | At Briarwood Elementary School in Oklahoma City, on the border with Moore, cars were thrown through the facade and the roof was torn off. A short distance away, at Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, rescue workers struggled to tear through rubble amid reports that dozens of students were trapped. |
| “Numerous neighborhoods completely leveled,” Sgt. Gary Knight of the Oklahoma City Police Department, said by telephone. “Neighborhoods just wiped clean.” Sergeant Knight said debris and damage to roadways, along with heavy traffic, were hindering emergency responders as they raced to the affected areas. | “Numerous neighborhoods completely leveled,” Sgt. Gary Knight of the Oklahoma City Police Department, said by telephone. “Neighborhoods just wiped clean.” Sergeant Knight said debris and damage to roadways, along with heavy traffic, were hindering emergency responders as they raced to the affected areas. |
| A spokeswoman for the mayor’s office in Moore said emergency workers were struggling to assess the damage. | A spokeswoman for the mayor’s office in Moore said emergency workers were struggling to assess the damage. |
| “Please send us your prayers,” she said. | “Please send us your prayers,” she said. |
| Brooke Cayot, a spokeswoman for Integris Southwest Medical Center in Oklahoma City, said had received 33 patients by about 6 p.m. Of those 10 were listed in critical condition, 10 in serious and 12 in fair or good. Many more patients were expected. | Brooke Cayot, a spokeswoman for Integris Southwest Medical Center in Oklahoma City, said had received 33 patients by about 6 p.m. Of those 10 were listed in critical condition, 10 in serious and 12 in fair or good. Many more patients were expected. |
| “They’ve been coming in minute by minute,” Ms. Cayot said. | “They’ve been coming in minute by minute,” Ms. Cayot said. |
| Emily Kezbers, a spokeswoman for Deaconess Hospital in Oklahoma City, said three patients injured during the tornado were on their way to the hospital. | Emily Kezbers, a spokeswoman for Deaconess Hospital in Oklahoma City, said three patients injured during the tornado were on their way to the hospital. |
| Keli Pirtle, a spokeswoman for the National Weather Service in Norman, Okla., said the tornado touched down at 2:56 p.m. and traveled for 20 miles. It was on the ground for 40 minutes, she said. It struck the town of Newcastle and traveled about 10 miles to Moore, a populous suburb of Oklahoma City. | Keli Pirtle, a spokeswoman for the National Weather Service in Norman, Okla., said the tornado touched down at 2:56 p.m. and traveled for 20 miles. It was on the ground for 40 minutes, she said. It struck the town of Newcastle and traveled about 10 miles to Moore, a populous suburb of Oklahoma City. |
| Ms. Pirtle said preliminary data suggested that it was a Category 4 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado strength on a scale of 0 to 5. A definitive assessment will not be available until Tuesday, she said. | Ms. Pirtle said preliminary data suggested that it was a Category 4 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado strength on a scale of 0 to 5. A definitive assessment will not be available until Tuesday, she said. |
| Moore was the scene of another huge tornado, in May 1999, in which winds reached record speeds of 302 m.p.h. | Moore was the scene of another huge tornado, in May 1999, in which winds reached record speeds of 302 m.p.h. |
| Television on Monday showed destruction spread over a vast area, with blocks upon blocks of homes and businesses destroyed. Residents, some partly clothed and apparently caught by surprise, were shown picking through rubble. Several structures were on fire, and cars had been tossed around, flipped over and stacked on top of each other. | Television on Monday showed destruction spread over a vast area, with blocks upon blocks of homes and businesses destroyed. Residents, some partly clothed and apparently caught by surprise, were shown picking through rubble. Several structures were on fire, and cars had been tossed around, flipped over and stacked on top of each other. |
| The storm system continued to churn through the region on Monday afternoon, and forecasters warned that new tornadoes could form. | The storm system continued to churn through the region on Monday afternoon, and forecasters warned that new tornadoes could form. |
| An earlier storm system also spawned several tornadoes across Oklahoma on Sunday. Several deaths were reported. | An earlier storm system also spawned several tornadoes across Oklahoma on Sunday. Several deaths were reported. |
| Russell Schneider, the director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., said the risk of tornadoes throughout the region remained high going into Tuesday. | Russell Schneider, the director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., said the risk of tornadoes throughout the region remained high going into Tuesday. |
| “This is prime time in the great plains for severe weather and May is the real peak,” he said. | “This is prime time in the great plains for severe weather and May is the real peak,” he said. |
Nick Oxford reported from Moore, and Michael Schwirtz from New York. | Nick Oxford reported from Moore, and Michael Schwirtz from New York. |