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Oklahoma tornado: mile-wide twister kills ten and levels Moore Oklahoma tornado: at least 51 people killed as mile-wide storm hits Moore
(about 1 hour later)
A devastating mile-wide tornado hit Oklahoma on Monday, flattening neigbourhoods, causing widespread fires and landing a direct hit on an elementary school. A devastating mile-wide tornado hit the US state of Oklahoma on Monday, flattening neigbourhoods, causing widespread fires and landing a direct hit on an elementary school.
Television footage showed homes and buildings reduced to rubble in Moore, south of Oklahoma City. Pictures showed vehicles littering roadways elsewhere in the state. At least ten people were confirmed to have died, according to the local medical examiner's office. Homes and buildings were reduced to rubble in Moore, south of Oklahoma City. Cars were strewn across roadways elsewhere in the state. The local medical examiner's office said 51 people had died, including seven children.
The National Weather Service issued an initial finding that the tornado was an EF-4 on the enhanced Fujita scale, the second most-powerful type of twister The National Weather Service said the storm measured an EF-4 on the enhanced Fujita scale, the second most-powerful type of tornado.
Authorities said that Plaza Towers elementary school in Moore took a direct hit from the tornado. The storm tore off the roof, knocked down walls and turned the playground into a mass of twisted plastic and metal. Hospitals were treatong more than 120 people, including 70 children. Some were in critical condition. "Hearts are broken," the state governor, Mary Fallin, told a news conference.
The storm struck in a part of the US known as Tornado Alley. Winds reached speeds of 200mph. Amateur video footage showed a dark funnel of cloud snaking across the landscaape, flattening buildings in its path and scattering debris over the streets.
Authorities said that Plaza Towers elementary school in Moore took a direct hit from the tornado. The winds whipped off the roof, knocked down walls and turned the playground into a mass of twisted plastic and metal.
Rescue workers passed surviving children down a human chain to a triage center in the parking lot.Rescue workers passed surviving children down a human chain to a triage center in the parking lot.
James Rushing, who lives across the street from the school, heard reports of the approaching tornado and ran to the school, where his five-year-old foster son, Aiden, attends classes. "About two minutes after I got there, the school started coming apart," he told the Associated Press.James Rushing, who lives across the street from the school, heard reports of the approaching tornado and ran to the school, where his five-year-old foster son, Aiden, attends classes. "About two minutes after I got there, the school started coming apart," he told the Associated Press.
Local reports said 75 children and staff were in the school at the time, some of whom were feared trapped in the rubble. KFOR reporter Lance West, who was on the scene, said he saw 30 children being pulled out alive.Local reports said 75 children and staff were in the school at the time, some of whom were feared trapped in the rubble. KFOR reporter Lance West, who was on the scene, said he saw 30 children being pulled out alive.
While there was no immediate estimate on injuries from the school, a spokewoman for Southwest Medical Center in Oklahoma City released an update on overall patient numbers there. Emergency services struggled to get to the badly hit areas because of damage to infrastructure and debris on roads. TV footage showed volunteers helping first-responders search rubble for survivors in Moore. Cars, homes and even schools appeared to have been destroyed. Sporadic fires broke out in the aftermath of the storm and thousands of properties remained without power.
Brooke Cayot told local KFOR-TV the hospital had 26 patients total: nine in critical condition, nine in serious condition and eight others. Two of the 26 patients were children, but Cayot did have their conditions. Oklahoma City police captain Dexter Nelson said downed power lines and open gas lines posed a risk in the aftermath of the tornado.
The hospital hosts the busiest ER in the state and has not called in additional staff, Cayot said. "Right now we have exactly what we need."
Damage to infrastructure and debris lying across roads made it more difficult for emergency services to get to badly hit areas. TV footage showed volunteers helping first-responders search rubble for survivors in Moore.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma City Police Captain Dexter Nelson said downed power lines and open gas lines posed a risk in the aftermath of the tornado.
It was the second day that tornadoes had hit the area. On Sunday, tornadoes and baseball-sized hail brought destruction to a mobile home park in Shawnee, a suburb of Oklahoma City.It was the second day that tornadoes had hit the area. On Sunday, tornadoes and baseball-sized hail brought destruction to a mobile home park in Shawnee, a suburb of Oklahoma City.
By Monday afternoon, two people were known to have died as a result of the severe weather at the weekend – 79-year-old Glen Irish and 76-year-old Billy Hutchinson.By Monday afternoon, two people were known to have died as a result of the severe weather at the weekend – 79-year-old Glen Irish and 76-year-old Billy Hutchinson.
Both were killed as tornadoes flattened homes in Shawnee. Oklahoma governor Mary Fallin declared an emergency in 16 counties as a result of severe weather and flooding.Both were killed as tornadoes flattened homes in Shawnee. Oklahoma governor Mary Fallin declared an emergency in 16 counties as a result of severe weather and flooding.
Monday's tornadoes prompted fears that the death toll could rise. Television footage taken in the aftermath of a twister that ripped through Moore showed scenes of widespread damage and destruction. Cars, homes and even schools appeared to have been destroyed. Sporadic fires broke out in the aftermath of the storm and thousands of properties remained without power. Residents had been urged to stay inside and take shelter prior to Monday's tornado.
Residents had been urged to stay inside and take shelter prior to Monday's twister hitting. Moore is a city that knows all too well the impact that tornadoes can have. Moore was struck by a severe tornado in 1999 that resulted in widespread destruction and resulted in the deaths of dozens of residents. On that occasion winds hit 302mph, registering F5 on the Fujita scale – the highest lev
It was in the way of a 1999 tornado that resulted in widespread destruction and resulted in the deaths of dozens of residents. On that occasion winds hit 302mph, registering F5 on the Fujita scale – the highest level. Brian Edwards, meteorologist at Accuweather.com, told the Guardian that the storm was likely to spread out across a large part of the Great Plains and midwest into Monday evening. "We are in for a long night. It is a very, very large area covered and a very large storm. Some of this storm will hit as far north as Chicago and Milwaukee."
Weather experts said the tornadoes might have been on a similar strength. Brian Edwards, meteorologist at Accuweather.com, told the Guardian: "From the images we are seeing, it looks like some structures have been completely levelled. It was definitely a high-ranking tornado. I wouldn't be surprised if it was EF4 or 5, which is the highest level."
Edwards added that the storm is likely to spread out across a large part of the Great Plains and midwest into Monday evening.
"We are in for a long night. It is a very, very large area covered and a very large storm. Some of this storm will hit as far north as Chicago and Milwaukee."
"The night is far from over," he added.
The National Weather Service said Monday afternoon that an area covering population of almost 62 million was at risk of storms.The National Weather Service said Monday afternoon that an area covering population of almost 62 million was at risk of storms.
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