Crews nearing end of search for survivors of twister
MOORE, OKLA. (AP) — Emergency crews were nearing the end of their search for survivors Tuesday in the broken remnants of an Oklahoma City suburb where massive tornado flattened homes and demolished an elementary school. Authorities lowered the death toll to 24, down from 51.
Fire Chief Gary Bird said that he’s “98 per cent sure” there are no more survivors or bodies to recover under the rubble in Moore. He said every damaged home had been searched at least once and that he’s hopeful the work could be completed by nightfall Tuesday, though heavy rains slowed efforts.
Bird said no additional survivors or bodies have been found since Monday night.
Authorities initially reported a higher death toll because some victims were apparently counted twice in the early chaos of the storm, said Amy Elliot, a spokeswoman for the state medical examiner’s office. Downed communication lines and problems sharing information with officers exacerbated the problem, she said.
The death toll included at least nine children. More than 200 peo- ple were treated at area hospitals.
“We will rebuild and we will regain our strength,” said Gov. Mary Fallin, who went on a flyover of the area and described it as “hard to look at.”
The ferocious storm, clocking winds of up to 200 mph (320 kph), ripped through the town of Moore in a central U.S. region known as Tornado Alley, reducing homes to piles of splintered wood. Less than 1 per cent of all tornadoes reach such wind speed. In Washington, President Barack Obama pledged urgent government help.
“In an instant, neighbourhoods were destroyed, dozens of people lost their lives, many more were injured,” Obama said. “Among the victims were young children trying to take shelter in the safest place they knew — their school.”
The storm left scores of blocks barren and dark in Moore, a community of 41,000 people 10 miles (16 kilometres) south of Oklahoma City. New search-and-rescue teams moved at dawn Tuesday, taking over from the 200 or so emergency responders who worked all night. A helicopter shined a spotlight from above to aid in the search.
Other search-and-rescue teams focused their efforts at Plaza Towers Elementary, where the storm ripped off the roof, knocked down walls and turned the playground into a mass of twisted plastic and metal as students and teachers huddled in hallways and bathrooms.