BREAKING: 51 Confirmed Dead in Oklahoma Tornado: Medical Examiner's Office [View all]

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Source: Reuters / Associated Press

@AP: BREAKING: State medical examiner's office: 37 killed in Oklahoma tornado; death toll expected to rise -RJJ

Death toll rises to at least 51 in Oklahoma tornado -state agency

May 20 (Reuters) - The death toll from a huge tornado that struck Moore, Oklahoma on Monday rose to 51, the state medical examiner's office said.

Amy Elliott, chief administrative officer of the Oklahoma medical examiner's office, said 51 were confirmed dead, up from 37 fatalities reported earlier.

The powerful tornado, rated the second highest strength level of EF4 and packing winds of up to 200 miles per hour (320 kph), touched down at mid-afternoon and devastated a wide area of the town.

(Reporting By Brendan O'Brien; Writing by Greg McCune; Editing by Bill Trott)


HUGE TORNADO HITS OKLAHOMA CITY SUBURB, KILLS 37

MOORE, Okla. (AP) — A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods with winds up to 200 mph, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school. At least 37 people were reported killed.

The storm laid waste to scores of buildings in Moore, south of the city. Block after block of the community lay in ruins. Homes were crushed into piles of broken wood. Cars and trucks were left crumpled on the roadside.

The National Weather Service issued an initial finding that the tornado was an EF-4 on the enhanced Fujita scale, the second most-powerful type of twister.

Authorities expected the death toll to rise as emergency crews moved deeper into the hardest-hit areas. At least 60 people were reported hurt, including more than a dozen children.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/tornadoes-slam-plains-midwest-1-dead-okla