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| Ice storm in US claims 15 lives | Ice storm in US claims 15 lives |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| An ice storm sweeping the central United States has left at least 15 people dead amid warnings of more freezing weather to come. | An ice storm sweeping the central United States has left at least 15 people dead amid warnings of more freezing weather to come. |
| More than 600,000 homes and businesses were left without electricity after icy winds toppled power lines and trees. | More than 600,000 homes and businesses were left without electricity after icy winds toppled power lines and trees. |
| Forecasters have issued winter storm warnings for parts of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and Texas. | Forecasters have issued winter storm warnings for parts of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and Texas. |
| Ice up to 1in (2.5cm) thick coated parts of Oklahoma and Missouri, where states of emergency have been declared. | Ice up to 1in (2.5cm) thick coated parts of Oklahoma and Missouri, where states of emergency have been declared. |
| See a map showing the states affected | See a map showing the states affected |
| "The predictions were pretty grim and they're still not good at all," said meteorologist Noelle Runyan. | "The predictions were pretty grim and they're still not good at all," said meteorologist Noelle Runyan. |
| All night I could hear the sounds of tree limbs breaking and falling to the ground Blake Thornberry, Oklahoma href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7138887.stm">In pictures: Ice storm class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7138317.stm">Send us your comments | |
| The worst-hit states so far have been Oklahoma and Missouri, where at least 13 people have died on roads made treacherous by driving sleet and ice. | The worst-hit states so far have been Oklahoma and Missouri, where at least 13 people have died on roads made treacherous by driving sleet and ice. |
| Twelve people were killed in road accidents in Oklahoma over the weekend, including four who died in an 11-vehicle pile-up on the ice-covered Interstate 40, west of Okemah. | Twelve people were killed in road accidents in Oklahoma over the weekend, including four who died in an 11-vehicle pile-up on the ice-covered Interstate 40, west of Okemah. |
| A highway accident claimed another life in Missouri, while a homeless man died of hypothermia in Oklahoma City. | A highway accident claimed another life in Missouri, while a homeless man died of hypothermia in Oklahoma City. |
| WINTER WEATHER Ice storm warning - freezing rain produces significant, and possibly damaging, accumulation of iceWinter storm warning - storm producing, or is forecast to produce, heavy snow or significant ice accumulations Blizzard warning - sustained wind or frequent gusts to 35 mph (56 km/h) or greater, considerable falling and/or blowing snow US National Weather Service | WINTER WEATHER Ice storm warning - freezing rain produces significant, and possibly damaging, accumulation of iceWinter storm warning - storm producing, or is forecast to produce, heavy snow or significant ice accumulations Blizzard warning - sustained wind or frequent gusts to 35 mph (56 km/h) or greater, considerable falling and/or blowing snow US National Weather Service |
| News agencies said at least one other person died, but it was not clear where. | News agencies said at least one other person died, but it was not clear where. |
| The governor of Missouri, Matt Blunt, warned: "We are only just beginning to see the devastation from this series of storms." | The governor of Missouri, Matt Blunt, warned: "We are only just beginning to see the devastation from this series of storms." |
| Flights were grounded at Tulsa International Airport, while hundreds more flights were cancelled at major air hubs in Chicago, Kansas City, St Louis and Oklahoma City. | Flights were grounded at Tulsa International Airport, while hundreds more flights were cancelled at major air hubs in Chicago, Kansas City, St Louis and Oklahoma City. |
| Electricity companies in Oklahoma said that some half a million customers were without power after lines snapped under the weight of ice and falling trees. | Electricity companies in Oklahoma said that some half a million customers were without power after lines snapped under the weight of ice and falling trees. |
| "This is a big one. We've got a massive situation here and it's probably going to be a week to 10 days before we get power on to everybody," Ed Bettinger, a spokesman for Public Service Company, told the Associated Press news agency. | "This is a big one. We've got a massive situation here and it's probably going to be a week to 10 days before we get power on to everybody," Ed Bettinger, a spokesman for Public Service Company, told the Associated Press news agency. |
| More than 100,000 people in Missouri also lost power, with several thousand others in Illinois and Kansas also suffering blackouts. | More than 100,000 people in Missouri also lost power, with several thousand others in Illinois and Kansas also suffering blackouts. |
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