Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Heartbreaking Photos: Dozens Killed As Mile-Wide Tornado Hits Oklahoma

Debris hangs from a tree over a destroyed homeAerial photo shows the remains of homes hit by a massive tornado in a suburb of Oklahoma City
On Monday afternoon, a giant 2-mile wide tornado destroyed Oklahoma City suburbs of about 55,000 people leaving at least 91 people dead  including seven children who drowned in a pool of water at their school. 
Plaza Towers Elementary was in the direct path of the giant twister and today rescuers were combing the debris to find 24 students who went missing after the building took a direct hit during 45 minutes of terror yesterday afternoon. 

President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster area in Oklahoma, ordering federal aid to supplement state and local efforts in Moore.

Another elementary school, homes and a hospital were among the buildings leveled by the 200mph winds leaving residents of the town of about 50,000 people stunned at the devastation and loss of life. At least 240 people are injured - 60 of these children - though these numbers continue to rise.

See more photos after cut...


A boy is pulled from beneath a collapsed wall at the Plaza Towers Elementary School
Flattened: This aerial photo shows damage to the Plaza Towers Elementary School after massive tornado hit Moore, south of the city
Hope after the storm: Rescue workers help free one of the 15 people that were trapped at a medical building at the Moore hospital complex
Scale: Bewildered residents assess the damage in their neighborhood
Relief: A child calls to his father after being pulled from the rubble of the Tower Plaza Elementary School Workers look for victims under debris from a tornado that passed across south Oklahoma CityDesperate: A young girl is pulled from beneath the wall by rescuers as they desperately search for more survivorsA fire burns in the Tower Plaza Addition in Moore, Oklahoma
Through the night: A handout picture provided by the Oklahoma National Guard shows rescue personnel working to find survivors beneath rubble
Workers continued to dig through the rubble of Plaza Towers Elementary School on Monday afternoon
Efforts: Rescue workers help free one of 15 people trapped in a medical building at the Moore hospital complex
Horror: Teachers carry children away from Briarwood Elementary school after a tornado destroyed the school in south Oklahoma City

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