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Twisted metal, cars in trees: massive tornado kills 15 in Oklahoma |
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WASHINGTON (AFP) - - A massive tornado one-half-mile (nearly one kilometer) wide tore across the Midwestern state of Oklahoma, killing at least 15 people as it flattened homes and up-ended cars, local media reported Wednesday.
The twister destroyed dozens of mobile homes, snapped power lines and bowled over buildings, leaving more than 29,000 residents without power across Oklahoma.
"There's nothing left ... twisted metal, cars turned upside down, cars in trees," said Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Bryant Harris, who lives in the devastated hamlet of Lone Grove, speaking to the Tulsa World newspaper.
The Oklahoman newspaper reported that the twister that ripped through Lone Grove shortly before 7:30 pm (0130 GMT Wednesday) was one of at least four that touched down in Oklahoma and Texas.
Meanwhile, the Tulsa World daily, also reporting the figure of 15 confirmed deaths, wrote that rescue workers suspended the search for survivors until daybreak on Wednesday.
"It's just too dangerous," Sheriff Ken Grace told the daily citing jagged metal and livewires hidden in rubble and debris.
"We don't need to be adding any more injuries to what we already have."
Emergency Management officials were not immediately available to confirm the death toll.
Forecasters said the twisters barreling through the famed "Tornado Alley" have come earlier than usual this year, fueled by unusually warm, wet weather.
"It's February, but we're going to treat it like May," said Mike Foster, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Norman, Oklahoma office, speaking to local media.
Television networks showed footage of roofs torn off homes and buildings reduced to rubble by the storms' devastating winds.
Another tornado hit near the state's main city of Oklahoma City, forcing diners and employees of a Mexican restaurant to huddle in the walk-in freezer as the building around them rattled.
"It was just unbelievable that something could come that quick," said Andrea Stephens, who emerged to find her van dented and shards of glass wedged into her seats.
In the town of Edmond, a tornado destroyed an auto body shop shortly after the manager left for the day.
"It's just surreal," Michael Jerry told the daily. "The steel girders are in a ball."
The National Weather Service has issued tornado watches for the area to the east of Oklahoma.
One deputy sheriff told The Oklahoman that entire families were killed in a trailer park.
"I'm scared to death to see what daylight brings," he said.
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