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Storms wreak havoc in southern US Dozens dead in southern US storms
(about 3 hours later)
At least 31 people have been killed and dozens injured by violent tornadoes in four southern US states. At least 45 people have been killed and dozens injured by violent tornadoes in four southern US states.
The twisters hit Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky at the end of a day of Super Tuesday nominating votes for November's presidential election.The twisters hit Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky at the end of a day of Super Tuesday nominating votes for November's presidential election.
A huge fire erupted at a natural gas pumping station in Tennessee that may have been damaged by the storms.A huge fire erupted at a natural gas pumping station in Tennessee that may have been damaged by the storms.
In the same state, students were temporarily trapped in the wreckage of their dormitory. In the same state, several students were temporarily trapped in the wreckage of their dormitory.
The US National Weather Service said at least six tornadoes had touched down in the 100 miles (160km) between Jackson and Oxford, Mississippi.The US National Weather Service said at least six tornadoes had touched down in the 100 miles (160km) between Jackson and Oxford, Mississippi.
This was an extraordinary night Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe Animated guide: Tornadoes This was an extraordinary night Mike BeebeArkansas Governor Animated guide: Tornadoes
The storms killed at least 11 people in Arkansas, 13 in Tennessee and seven in Kentucky, authorities said. The storms killed at least 13 people in Arkansas, 24 people in Tennessee, seven in Kentucky and one in Alabama, authorities said.
Hundreds of thousands of people are reported to have been left without power.Hundreds of thousands of people are reported to have been left without power.
A couple and their 11-year-old daughter were killed when their home was destroyed by a tornado that touched down near the centre of the town of Atkins, Arkansas. Rescuers searched the town in the dark for survivors. A couple and their 11-year-old daughter were killed when their home was destroyed by a tornado that touched down near the centre of the town of Atkins, Arkansas.
Pope County Coroner Leonard Krout said their home "took a direct hit".
"Neighbours and friends who were there said, 'There used to be a home there'," Mr Krout told the Associated Press news agency (AP).
Rescuers picked their way past downed power lines and upturned vehicles to search the town in the dark for survivors.
"This was an extraordinary night," said Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe. "When it's compounded by darkness, that makes it that much more difficult.""This was an extraordinary night," said Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe. "When it's compounded by darkness, that makes it that much more difficult."
A couple were killed with their adult daughter in their mobile home near Greenville, in western Kentucky, when a tornado went through a trailer park.A couple were killed with their adult daughter in their mobile home near Greenville, in western Kentucky, when a tornado went through a trailer park.
Four more people were killed in Allen County, near the state border with Tennessee, a spokesman for the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management told the Associated Press news agency. Four more people were killed in Allen County, near the state border with Tennessee, a spokesman for the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management told AP.
'Ripped apart''Ripped apart'
Flames shot hundreds of feet in the air after the Columbia Gulf Natural Gas pumping station near Green Grove, Tennessee, caught fire. The Associated Press news agency quoted authorities as saying that the fire had spread to nearby houses, killing an undetermined number of people. Flames shot hundreds of feet in the air after the Columbia Gulf Natural Gas pumping station near Green Grove, Tennessee, caught fire.
Officials said it had been struck by a tornado.
A nearby resident said her home had been flattened by the storm.
"It just took the house and everything and my horses and my dog," Dara Reasonover told CNN. "I don't know if they're alive or dead, but we'll make it."
A number of people hadve been reported killed in the fire. There is no confirmation.
At Union University in Jackson, western Tennessee, several students were freed after being trapped in their badly damaged dormitory.At Union University in Jackson, western Tennessee, several students were freed after being trapped in their badly damaged dormitory.
In Memphis, Tennessee, high winds collapsed the roof of a Sears store at a shopping mall. Police said some people who took shelter under a nearby bridge were washed away, but were pulled from the Wolf River with only minor injuries. Union University President David Dockery told US media that 51 students had been taken to the hospital, and nine had stayed overnight.
In Memphis, Tennessee, high winds collapsed the roof of a Sears store at a shopping mall.
Police said some people who took shelter under a nearby bridge were washed away, but were pulled from the Wolf River with only minor injuries.
In Southaven, Mississippi, a tornado wrecked warehouses in an industrial park.In Southaven, Mississippi, a tornado wrecked warehouses in an industrial park.
Local police commander Steve Atkinson said: "It ripped the warehouses apart. The best way to describe it is it looks like a bomb went off."Local police commander Steve Atkinson said: "It ripped the warehouses apart. The best way to describe it is it looks like a bomb went off."
Presidential candidates including Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee interrupted their Super Tuesday speeches to express sympathy for the victims.Presidential candidates including Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee interrupted their Super Tuesday speeches to express sympathy for the victims.


Your comments:Your comments:
There were numerous severe weather warnings on TV but i did not think it would get this bad. For most of the day the weather was normal but around 8pm the wind started blowing ferociously. All of a sudden we could hear sirens and we were ordered to the ground floor of our dormitory. After about half an hour it quickly became calm again. Luckily for us Arkansas State University was not damaged.Macnos Mutano, Jonesboro, USAThere were numerous severe weather warnings on TV but i did not think it would get this bad. For most of the day the weather was normal but around 8pm the wind started blowing ferociously. All of a sudden we could hear sirens and we were ordered to the ground floor of our dormitory. After about half an hour it quickly became calm again. Luckily for us Arkansas State University was not damaged.Macnos Mutano, Jonesboro, USA
We are in Starkville, Mississippi and are getting hit by the severe weather really bad right now and I'm surprised that we still have power and internet capabilities. It is unknown how bad the aftermath of the storm will be until the sun rises. We are still fearful of tornadoes here. Please keep us in your intentions.Trevor Caulkins, Starkville, Mississippi USAWe are in Starkville, Mississippi and are getting hit by the severe weather really bad right now and I'm surprised that we still have power and internet capabilities. It is unknown how bad the aftermath of the storm will be until the sun rises. We are still fearful of tornadoes here. Please keep us in your intentions.Trevor Caulkins, Starkville, Mississippi USA
I live in Jackson, Tennessee, and watched the tornado as it passed less than a half-mile from where I was standing. There are 8 students still trapped in the University, as one of the dormitories has collapsed. As well as 50 elderly trapped inside a retirement home that collapsed. It has definitely been a terrifying night. Trees, buildings, power lines, street lights...they are down all over the place. Meaghan, Jackson, Tennessee, USI live in Jackson, Tennessee, and watched the tornado as it passed less than a half-mile from where I was standing. There are 8 students still trapped in the University, as one of the dormitories has collapsed. As well as 50 elderly trapped inside a retirement home that collapsed. It has definitely been a terrifying night. Trees, buildings, power lines, street lights...they are down all over the place. Meaghan, Jackson, Tennessee, US
A friend's mother was hiding in a bathtub in Jackson, TN. We have not heard from her as of this time because phone lines are down. This is not the first time for tornadoes to rip through that area. The Main Street was destroyed a few years back in the same town.Vloxy, Dallas, TXA friend's mother was hiding in a bathtub in Jackson, TN. We have not heard from her as of this time because phone lines are down. This is not the first time for tornadoes to rip through that area. The Main Street was destroyed a few years back in the same town.Vloxy, Dallas, TX

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