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| Oklahoma tornado: Search for survivors continues | Oklahoma tornado: Search for survivors continues |
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| Emergency workers in the US are continuing to search for survivors of the gigantic tornado that tore through a suburb of Oklahoma City on Monday. | Emergency workers in the US are continuing to search for survivors of the gigantic tornado that tore through a suburb of Oklahoma City on Monday. |
| Rescuers worked through the night in the rubble of homes, schools and a hospital in Moore, the worst-hit area. | Rescuers worked through the night in the rubble of homes, schools and a hospital in Moore, the worst-hit area. |
| Neighbourhoods were flattened by winds of up to 200mph (320km/h). | Neighbourhoods were flattened by winds of up to 200mph (320km/h). |
| At least 24 people were confirmed dead, including nine children, the chief medical examiner said. Earlier, more than 51 people had been feared dead. | |
| "We have got good news. The number right now is 24," Amy Elliott, chief administrative officer at the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, told reporters. | "We have got good news. The number right now is 24," Amy Elliott, chief administrative officer at the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, told reporters. |
| "The prior figure of 51 dead may have included some double-reported casualties." | "The prior figure of 51 dead may have included some double-reported casualties." |
| One search and rescue worker at a school that stood directly in the tornado's path told CBS News that officials suspected the children were trapped in a pool of water. | |
| "The children were in the main hallway, which is where they were supposed to be during their tornado drills, and the roof collapsed on top of them," Becky Nelson said. | "The children were in the main hallway, which is where they were supposed to be during their tornado drills, and the roof collapsed on top of them," Becky Nelson said. |
| "They suspect waterlines broke and the children drowned because they couldn't get up from the debris." | "They suspect waterlines broke and the children drowned because they couldn't get up from the debris." |
| President Barack Obama offered his prayers to the people of Moore and pledged whatever assistance they needed during the disaster response. | President Barack Obama offered his prayers to the people of Moore and pledged whatever assistance they needed during the disaster response. |
| "The people of Moore should know that their country will remain on the ground, beside them, for as long as it takes," he said. | "The people of Moore should know that their country will remain on the ground, beside them, for as long as it takes," he said. |
| Emergency services are looking for residents trapped in shelters, cellars and the rubble, says the BBC's Jonny Dymond in Moore. | Emergency services are looking for residents trapped in shelters, cellars and the rubble, says the BBC's Jonny Dymond in Moore. |
| Betsy Randolph of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol told the BBC the long night's search for bodies was punctuated by flashes of good news. | Betsy Randolph of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol told the BBC the long night's search for bodies was punctuated by flashes of good news. |
| "I was hearing just a few moments ago we believe about 101 people were found alive in cellars and different places throughout the city," she said. | "I was hearing just a few moments ago we believe about 101 people were found alive in cellars and different places throughout the city," she said. |
| "As far as we're concerned, if one person is unaccounted for, we're going to stay and we're going to search until we find that one person." | "As far as we're concerned, if one person is unaccounted for, we're going to stay and we're going to search until we find that one person." |
| Heavy-lifting equipment was deployed under bright floodlights as the operation went on through the night and continued as dawn broke. | Heavy-lifting equipment was deployed under bright floodlights as the operation went on through the night and continued as dawn broke. |
| More than 200 Oklahoma National Guardsmen as well as personnel from other states were called in to help in the search-and-rescue effort. | More than 200 Oklahoma National Guardsmen as well as personnel from other states were called in to help in the search-and-rescue effort. |
| In the background, huge lightning strikes - every 20 to 30 seconds - could be seen as the weather remained unsettled. | In the background, huge lightning strikes - every 20 to 30 seconds - could be seen as the weather remained unsettled. |
| President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in Oklahoma and ordered federal authorities to join in the search efforts. | President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in Oklahoma and ordered federal authorities to join in the search efforts. |
| Monday's storm hit Moore, a suburb of about 55,000 people, at 15:01 (20:01 GMT) and remained on the ground for about 45 minutes. | Monday's storm hit Moore, a suburb of about 55,000 people, at 15:01 (20:01 GMT) and remained on the ground for about 45 minutes. |
| About 120 people are being treated in hospitals, but the number of people injured is reported to be higher. | About 120 people are being treated in hospitals, but the number of people injured is reported to be higher. |
| Much of the rescue effort was concentrated on what remains of Plaza Towers Elementary School, which took a direct hit. | Much of the rescue effort was concentrated on what remains of Plaza Towers Elementary School, which took a direct hit. |
| Dozens of firefighters could be seen at the building, where the roof and walls had been knocked down. | Dozens of firefighters could be seen at the building, where the roof and walls had been knocked down. |
| 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. |
| The storm left a tangle of ruined buildings, piles of broken wood, overturned and crushed cars and fires in some places. | The storm left a tangle of ruined buildings, piles of broken wood, overturned and crushed cars and fires in some places. |
| Many houses in the area are built on hard ground without basements, so many residents struggled to find shelter. | Many houses in the area are built on hard ground without basements, so many residents struggled to find shelter. |
| "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." | "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." |
| 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. |
| They said the tornado measured EF-4 on the five-point Fujita scale - the second most powerful type. | They said the tornado measured EF-4 on the five-point Fujita scale - the second most powerful type. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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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