At least 91 dead after tornado tears through Oklahoma

A tornado gusting at an estimated 320 kilometres per hour has cut a swathe through the US city of Oklahoma and surrounding state, leaving at least 91 dead and scores injured and missing. Rescue teams have been mobilised and a full-scale operation is underway. “We have had a massive tornado, a huge one has passed through this community. We do know there are fatalities, we don’t have a number count yet, we know there are a lot of injuries,” said Mary Fallin, Oklahoma State Governor. “We know we have lost a tremendous amount of structures throughout this community and throughout the state,” she continued. It is feared many are trapped in collapsed buildings. At the Plaza Towers Elementary School, children have been pulled from the debris. “I just wanted to say first of all that our prayers and our thoughts are with the Oklahoma families that have been hit hard by this terrible storm these last two days,” added Fallin. “In particular our hearts are just broken for the parents that are wondering about the state of their children that have been in the schools that have been hit today.” American flagAn American flag lies on top of an overturned car after a tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma. A 3-km-wide tornado tore through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore on Monday, killing at least 91 people while destroying entire tracts of homes, piling cars atop one another, and trapping two dozen school children beneath rubble. REUTERS/Gene BlevinsChildren with dogAbby Madi (L) and Peterson Zatterlee comforts Zaterlee's dog Rippy, after a tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma. A 3-km-wide tornado tore through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore on Monday, killing at least 91 people while destroying entire tracts of homes, piling cars atop one another, and trapping two dozen school children beneath rubble. REUTERS/Gene BlevinsDestroyed carsDestroyed cars are seen along Interstate 35 after a tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma. A 3-km-wide tornado tore through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore on Monday, killing at least 91 people while destroying entire tracts of homes, piling cars atop one another, and trapping two dozen school children beneath rubble. REUTERS/Gene BlevinsGas pumps missingGas pumps islands are seen without pumps after a tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma. A 3-km-wide tornado tore through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore on Monday, killing at least 91 people while destroying entire tracts of homes, piling cars atop one another, and trapping two dozen school children beneath rubble. REUTERS/Gene BlevinsTwo girlsTwo girls stand in rubble after a tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma. A 3-km-wide tornado tore through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore on Monday, killing at least 91 people while destroying entire tracts of homes, piling cars atop one another, and trapping two dozen school children beneath rubble. REUTERS/Gene Blevins USA Deadliest Tornados #Where:“Tri-State” (Missouri, Illinois and Indiana) When: March 18, 1925 Casualties: 695 #Where: Natchez, Mississippi When: May 7, 1840 Casualties: 317 #Where: St. Louis, Missouri and East St. Louis, Illinois When: May 27, 1896 Casualties: 255 #Where: Tupelo, Mississippi When: April 5, 1936 Casualties: 216 #Where: Gainesville, Georgia When: April 5, 1936 Casualties: 203 #Where: Woodward, Oklahoma When: April 9, 1947 Casualties: 181 #Where: Joplin, Missouri When: May 22, 2011 Casualties: 158 Where: Amite, Louisiana and Purvis, Mississippi When: April 24, 1908 Casualties: 143 Where: New Richmond, Wisconsin When: June 12, 1899 Casualties: 117 Where: Flint, Michigan When: June 8, 1953 Casualties: 116 Powerful photo of woman carrying child through tornado debris. #Oklahoma #opok twitter.com/todayshow/stat…— Anonymous (@AnonOpsMob) 21 mai 2013 PHOTO from Paul Little of Moore, #Oklahoma; says he found this in his house after the tornado. twitter.com/ckanal/status/…— Craig Kanalley (@ckanal) 20 mai 2013