A giant tornado, a mile wide or more, killed at least 91 people, 20 of them children, as it tore across parts of Oklahoma City and its suburbs Monday afternoon, flattening homes, flinging cars through the air and crushing at least two schools.
At least 24 people are confirmed dead, including seven children, and many are missing after the vast tornado tore through Oklahoma City, US officials say. Worst hit was Moore, south of the city, where neighborhoods were flattened and schools destroyed by winds of up to 200mph (320km/h).
About 120 people are being treated in hospitals. Earlier reports said more than 90 people had died. Monday’s twister hit Moore, a suburb of about 55,000 people, at 15:01 (20:01 GMT) and remained on the ground for about 45 minutes. On Tuesday morning, the chief administrative officer of the Oklahoma City Medical Examiner’s Office told reporters that the death toll had been revised down.
President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in Oklahoma.
The injured flooded into hospitals, and the authorities said many people remained trapped, even as rescue workers struggled to make their way through debris-clogged streets to the devastated suburb of Moore, where much of the damage occurred.
Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore was reduced to a pile of twisted metal and toppled walls. Rescue workers were able to pull several children from the rubble, but on Monday evening crews were still struggling to cut through fallen beams and clear debris amid reports that dozens of students were trapped. At Briarwood Elementary School in Oklahoma City, on the border with Moore, cars were thrown through the facade and the roof was torn off.
Devastating and traumatic to watch while a man sits in front of what Plaza Towers Elementary School used to be.
President Barack Obama has also ordered federal authorities to join in the search efforts which have continued throughout the night.
Police keep looking for any survivors but the immense devastation is greater to sink the efforts as they look tired against mother’s nature force.
Alli Christian, left, helps Jessica Wilkinson as she looks for her dog Bella, after Wilkinson’s home was destroyed by the tornado.
Watch as the tornado makes its way through Oklahoma city.
The images are truly heartbreaking to think all these people have lost just about everything.
The monstrous tornado roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs.
Don’t miss the second video below.
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