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Deadly tornadoes kill 24 and flatten buildings in Tennessee | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Two powerful tornadoes that ripped through central Tennessee on Tuesday killed 24 people, according to the state's Emergency Management Authority. | |
In Nashville, Tennessee's biggest city, the tornadoes caused widespread damage to homes and other buildings. | In Nashville, Tennessee's biggest city, the tornadoes caused widespread damage to homes and other buildings. |
The storm hit after midnight and moved so quickly that many people sleeping didn't have time to take shelter, US media report. | |
President Donald Trump confirmed he planned to visit the state on Friday. | |
The number of missing people decreased from 88 on Tuesday to 22 on Wednesday after search and rescue efforts continued overnight, Putnam county Mayor Mayor Randy Porter said. | |
An earlier death toll of 25 was revised after one person's death was found to be unrelated to the storm. | |
The scene in Nashville is "like a war zone", one resident told the BBC. | |
One couple in Cookeville told CBS that they tried to shelter in their bathtub. | |
"We were flying in the air, into the trees back there, where once we hit those trees, the house... it just exploded. The house just disintegrated," Seth Wells said. | |
"I have no clue how we survived, it was like Wizard of Oz." | |
Much of the damage is centred in Putnam County - 80 miles (130km) east of Nashville - where 18 deaths, including five children, were reported. | |
In Wilson County, three people died, as well as two people in Davidson County and one in Benton. | |
A state of emergency remains in place, and several counties are working to clear debris and fallen trees. | |
Five shelters are open, and about 40,000 people remain without power. | |
Nashville's Emergency Operations Centre said it had opened a shelter with running water in a farmers' market to help displaced residents. | Nashville's Emergency Operations Centre said it had opened a shelter with running water in a farmers' market to help displaced residents. |
Nashville Mayor John Cooper said the city was "devastated" and urged people to "lend a helping hand" to neighbours. | |
There was also "significant damage" to John C Tune Airport, about eight miles from the city centre, the airport said. | |
The National Weather Service reported that winds of 165mph hit Nashville. The storms were the deadliest to hit Tennessee since 2011, according to the Weather Channel. | |
Music stars Taylor Swift and Dolly Parton tweeted their support for those affected. | |
"My heart is with everyone in Tennessee who has been affected by the tornados. Sending you my love and prayers," wrote Taylor Swift. | |
The city's schools, courts and transport lines closed on Tuesday because of the damage, officials said. | |
Election polling sites located at schools opened for Super Tuesday, but four polling stations were moved. | |
Tennessee was one of 14 US states holding primary contest votes on Super Tuesday to select a Democratic nominee to stand in November's presidential election. |