Monday, May 23, 2011

Missouri tornado: Over 100 dead in Joplin, Mo., tornado

The Associated Press: Mo. governor says 17 rescued from tornado debris

Mo. governor says 17 rescued from tornado debris

(AP) – 1 hour ago

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon says authorities have found another 10 people alive in the wreckage left by a tornado that killed 116, bringing the number of rescued survivors to 17.

But Nixon says he fears the number killed by the storm that slammed into the southwest Missouri city of Joplin on Sunday evening will grow higher as search and rescue efforts continue.

Nixon told The Associated Press on Monday night he doesn't even want to guess how high the death toll will eventually climb, but he says: "Clearly, it's on its way up."

The tornado tore a six-mile-long, half-mile wide path through the middle of Joplin. Much of the city's south side was leveled, with churches, schools, businesses and homes reduced to ruins by winds close to 200 mph.

Copyright © 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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Joplin searches through wreckage

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