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Missouri tornado: Joplin storm kills dozens Missouri tornado: Joplin storm kills dozens
(40 minutes later)
At least 89 people have been killed after a tornado tore through the city of Joplin in the US state of Missouri, officials have said. At least 89 people have been killed and hundreds injured after a tornado tore through the city of Joplin in the US state of Missouri, officials have said.
The tornado cut a path nearly six miles (10km) long through the city centre, destroying businesses and homes. Joplin official Mark Rohr said the storm cut a path six miles (10km) long. Homes and businesses were flattened and a damaged hospital had to be evacuated.
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has declared a state of emergency and warned more storms are on the way. Power lines are down and telephone connections are largely cut off.
The Governor of Missouri, Jay Nixon, has declared a state of emergency and warned that more storms are on the way.
Cities in three other Midwestern states have also been badly affected. At least one person was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Last month, tornadoes and storms killed at least 350 people in Alabama and six other southern states.Last month, tornadoes and storms killed at least 350 people in Alabama and six other southern states.
John Miller, a freelance photographer for the Springfield News-Leader newspaper, described widespread damage in Joplin. 'Nothing left'
"The Home Depot is levelled. The Walmart is destroyed. Gas stations, buildings. Everywhere I could see was either heavily damaged or completely destroyed," he said. Jeff Lehr, a reporter for the Joplin Globe newspaper, said he was upstairs in his home when the storm hit the city of about 50,000 at about 1730 (2230 GMT) on Sunday but was able to make his way to his basement.
"I saw firefighters and paramedics pull a young girl out of a car at the Home Depot. Part of the building had fallen on the car." "There was a loud huffing noise, my windows started popping. I had to get downstairs, glass was flying. I opened a closet and pulled myself into it," he told the Associated Press.
Hospital damaged "Then you could hear everything go. It tore the roof off my house, everybody's house. I came outside and there was nothing left."
Power lines and phone lines in the city are down, reports say. Another resident, Tom Rogers, said his house had been destroyed.
Witnesses said ambulances lined the street near a Walmart store amid reports that hundreds of people were trapped inside. "It's just gone. We heard the tornado sirens for the second time. All of a sudden, everything came crashing down on us. We pulled our heads up and there was nothing. It was gone," he told the Joplin Globe.
Officials at St John's Hospital in Joplin said the building had been badly damaged and windows blown out. A resident living 45 miles (70km) away said debris from the hospital had landed in his yard, including medical supplies and X-rays. Much of the city's south side is reported to have been levelled, with churches, schools, businesses and homes reduced to homes. Power and telephone lines across the city were also downed, and many vehicles overturned.
Speaking at a pre-dawn news conference outside St John's Hospital, Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr said at least 89 people had died. Nearly 100 patients at the St John Regional Medical Center in Joplin were having to be evacuated from after the hospital took a direct hit.
The Red Cross has opened a shelter at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin for victims of the disaster, Red Cross spokeswoman Joanne Muir told the BBC. A resident living 45 miles (70km) away said debris from the hospital had landed in his yard, including medical supplies and X-rays.
It has also sent an emergency response vehicle with some supplies such as blankets, cots, water and food to the area. At a pre-dawn news conference on Monday outside the St John Regional Medical Center, Mr Rohr announced that the number of confirmed dead was 89.
"I know the hospital did take a direct hit and I have heard from people that some people have lost their homes, and there was damage to one of the schools," she said. He said the tornado had cut a path nearly six miles long and more than half a mile (800m) wide through the city centre, and that tornado sirens had given residents about a 20-minute warning.
Fire chief Mitch Randles said the tornado "cut the city in half" and estimated that 25 to 30% was damaged.
A door-to-door search of the damaged area will begin later on Monday morning, but progress will be slow because of the danger of downed power lines and gas leaks, which caused fires around the city overnight.
"We will recover and come back stronger than we are today," Mr Rohr said.
Earlier, the Red Cross opened a shelter at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin for victims, spokeswoman Joanne Muir told the BBC.
It had also sent an emergency response vehicle with some supplies such as blankets, cots, water and food to the area, she said.
Continued riskContinued risk
US President Barack Obama - on his way to the Republic of Ireland - sent his condolences to those affected.US President Barack Obama - on his way to the Republic of Ireland - sent his condolences to those affected.
"Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to the families of all those who lost their lives in the tornadoes and severe weather that struck Joplin, Missouri, as well as communities across the Midwest today," the president said in a statement."Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to the families of all those who lost their lives in the tornadoes and severe weather that struck Joplin, Missouri, as well as communities across the Midwest today," the president said in a statement.
"We commend the heroic efforts by those who have responded and who are working to help their friends and neighbours at this very difficult time.""We commend the heroic efforts by those who have responded and who are working to help their friends and neighbours at this very difficult time."
Governor Nixon said storms had caused extensive damage across Missouri.Governor Nixon said storms had caused extensive damage across Missouri.
"They continue to pose significant risk to lives and property," he said in a statement."They continue to pose significant risk to lives and property," he said in a statement.
"As a state, we are deploying every agency and resource available to keep Missouri families safe, search for the missing, provide emergency medical care, and begin to recover." he added."As a state, we are deploying every agency and resource available to keep Missouri families safe, search for the missing, provide emergency medical care, and begin to recover." he added.
He warned that the storms were not finished.He warned that the storms were not finished.
"I urge Missourians to keep a close eye on the latest weather information and to follow the instructions and warnings of emergency personnel as these deadly storms continue to move through our state," he said."I urge Missourians to keep a close eye on the latest weather information and to follow the instructions and warnings of emergency personnel as these deadly storms continue to move through our state," he said.
Are you in Joplin? Have you been affected by the tornado? You can tell us your story using the form below.Are you in Joplin? Have you been affected by the tornado? You can tell us your story using the form below.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (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 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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