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THE SHEER FORCE of the deadly tornado that struck Oklahoma City’s suburbs last night is evident in these images of the destruction it left in its wake.
This photo provided by KFOR-TV shows homes flattened outside Moore, Oklahoma. Pic: AP Photo/KFOR-TV
Twenty children are reported to have died as the tornado ripped through the Oklahoma City suburbs. The death toll, which stands at 51, is expected to rise. Some outlets are reporting that the toll is as high as 91.
Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, left, picks up a stuffed dog from the rubble of Kimberly Graham’s home, at the Steelman Estates Mobile Home Park, which was hard hit in Sunday’s tornado, near Shawnee, Oklahoma. Pic: AP Photo Sue Ogrocki
Residents braved the extreme conditions – and risked their lives – to capture the the tornado as it neared where they sheltered:
(Attila1487/YouTube)
The intense weather conditions continue in the wake of the storm, with the Weather Channel showing heavy rain and lightning in many areas.
There is still a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms in portions of northeast Arkansas and the Missouri Bootheel, with damaging wind gusts of up to 70mph possible and hail measuring up to 1.5 inches in diameter possible, the Storm Prediction Centre says.
Rescue workers dig through the rubble of a collapsed wall at the Plaza Tower Elementary School to free trapped students in Moore. Pic: AP Photo Sue Ogrocki
The tornado that swept through the Oklahoma City suburbs late yesterday was up to 1.6 kilometres wide, with winds up to 320 kph. It flattened homes, started fires and struck an elementary school where children and teachers were sheltering.
A woman carries a child through a field near the collapsed Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore. Pic: AP Photo Sue Ogrocki
Those who have survived the severe weather are encouraged to go on the Safe and Well website to register that they are safe.
A fire burns in the Tower Plaza Addition in Moore. Pic: AP Photo Sue Ogrocki
The wreckage left in the tornado’s wake is almost impossible to comprehend – homes reduced to rubble, cars battered and broken, people’s livelihoods wiped out by the force of nature.
This aerial photo shows the Moore Medical center in Moore. Pic: AP Photo/Steve Gooch
An official disaster has been declared by US President Barack Obama and the rescue and recovery work is underway.
(bvn1/YouTube)
The remains of houses in Moore. Pic: AP Photo/Steve Gooch
Over a hundred people are being treated for their injuries in hospital, but that number is expected to rise. National Guard members have been sent by the Oklahoma Governor, Mary Fallin, to assist with rescue operations.
Federal aid has been sent by President Obama.
Moore police dig through the rubble of the Plaza Towers Elementary School. Pic: AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki
This aerial photo shows the remains of homes hit by a massive tornado in Moore. Pic: AP Photo/Steve Gooch
Two years ago, in May 2011, a tornado struck the city of Joplin, leading to the deaths of 158 people. It was the deadliest recent tornado since 1953, when 116 people died after a twister hit Flint, Michigan.
A tornado moves past homes in Moore yesterday. Pic: AP Photo/Alonzo Adams
The search for victims is still ongoing, as people try to come to terms with the destruction that has been wrought on their communities.
Lee Hoyle, of Chickasaw Nation search and rescue, digs through the debris of a mobile home in the Steelman Estates Mobile Home Park, near Shawnee. Pic: AP Photo Sue Ogrocki
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Horrific !!!. My heart goes out to them.
They do get alot of extreme weather. What i don’t understand is why they keep building wooden houses.
Matt, the school that was destroyed was made of concrete. No structure can withstand a tornado unless its built like a bomb shelter.
I know we complain about the insesently bad weather in ireland. But I would gladly take bad wet summers over that. Must have been a horrible thing to witness.
An absolute tragedy, poor little children Rip to all who lost their lives and thoughts and prayers are with their families
Fair play to all the emergency services,no matter how bad the disaster or tragedy it always shows the best of humanity the way everyone comes together to help.The scary thing is the Tornado wasn’t even an F5.
tornadoes have got to be the scariest force of mother nature .
Really terrible tragedy again. The US really gets it lately. Terrorists, Crazed lunatics and Mother Nature. One thing after another. Awful sad!
Heart breaking, I can’t even begin to imagine the loss from this horrific event.
Very very sad. Of all the places for the children to die.
God bless !! There’s no words for this tragedy …
Dreadful RIP to those who lost their lives
The force of nature is unbelievable
41 red thumbs when i mentioned this last night – comments like “so what” from people ..
What’s your point?
That there are heartless people who couldn’t care less about such a tragedy
That is true I suppose
Until such time as death arrives at their own door.
What were u expecting my point to be?
Yeah – Master Mc Man – it’s all about you.
Have you recovered from your traumatic red thumbing?
Bobs out on day release i see
In most U.S. School districts where there is a warning for severe weather of any type there is an early release option where the School closes up to two hours early.Had this been implemented in Moore yesterday most of those dead children would in all likelihood be still alive.The warnings were issued a day in advance.Serious questions need to be asked why this did not happen.No one can foresee a tornado as big as the one that occurred but the warnings for that potentially happening were there and were ignored.R.I.P. to all who lost their lives.
Today is not the day to be facing those questions. That day will come. Lessons will be learnt from this.
PS I live 20 miles from Moore. The tornado was heading in my direction when it lifted. I watched the storm pass by after all the destruction it caused. Sad
My heart goes out to them. For all the moaning we do about Irish weather nothing compares to what those families are going through. Ar dhéis de go raibh a ainm.
Did they have warnings? If so,why did they send kids to school?
According to rte they got 16 minutes warning, which is above the average of 5 to 10 minutes. It hit at 3.01pm local time, so most parents wouldn’t have had time to get to their children. Poor souls. Rip
Bit ridiculous comment there Ian. Do you honestly believe those parents knew a tornado was coming and sent their kids to school anyway? And who is to know its path anyway. Heartbreaking for the families of those poor babies.
I think a lot of the problems are to do with the building materials, build with concrete and you’ve some hope. Timber houses are a disaster.
I live in the area. Witnesses two tornados Sunday. The storm that produced this tornado passed over my head yesterday.
We knew we would have tornadoes yesterday since last week. Yes I think changes need to happen. And I think they will.
Woiuld you rather have concrete lumps and bricks raining out of the sky or bits of timber?Or having this stuff chucked at you by the intense centrifugal force of a tornado?? Main reason they build out of wood out there.Underground or semi underground would be a great idea ,but rather expensive.
I would rather neither hit me on the head but if id the choice of living in a reinforced concrete building or a timber structure, I know what id be picking!
Would it not make more sense to have reinforced expensive concrete structures built once rather than having to continuously rebuild timber ones ???
Come on folks..Dont be hyprocrites now…Surely all the Yank haters and bashers should be having a field day here now… Whats with saying “they deserved it” …Or “now they know what its like to lose their homes and good enough for them”??? Dont be shy now…Good chance now to put the boot in when they are down….
Could they just scramble F16s to intercept and fire a weapon high up into the rotating vortex to disrupt the high velocity air flow so the thing just stops…
No
Terrible tragedy, the quality of the housing is a big factor here as well :(
Arbuthnot, as its been said before, there’s not a lot that can withstand a tornado. Wood or brick- a tornado will plough through it.
My goodness, I hope they find that women’s dog!
Death toll revised down to 24
My thoughts are with all the people who lost someone in this awful tornado!..
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