Mourning begins for victims of tornadoes in US

CREWS laboured to restore services and remove heaps of rubble in towns smashed by tornadoes that roared through Kansas, Missouri and Tennessee, while others began mourning the 37 people killed by the violent weather.

Storms lingered yesterday over the Tennessee and the National Weather Service posted tornado warnings for southern Tennessee and northern Alabama. Ten people were still missing yesterday, including eight in this southwestern Missouri town and two in hard-hit Madison County, Tennessee. Curfews were imposed in several communities and police were on guard against looting.

Missouri governor Bob Holden asked the White House to declare a federal disaster in 39 counties. Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius declared disasters or emergencies in several counties.

Federal Emergency Management Agency director Michael D Brown arrived in Kansas yesterday to tour Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties, before heading to Lawrence County in Missouri.

In Pierce City, the storm ravaged the four-block-long business district, tossing heavy debris like toothpicks but leaving some areas strangely undisturbed. At American Legion Post 66, the big plate-glass window was shattered, but tables and chairs were still lined up inside for bingo.

The town of nearly 1,400 residents had been working to refurbish the downtown area to attract tourists.

“Our prayers, and I hope your prayers, are with those whose loved ones who lost life or those who lost their homes,” President Bush told tornado victims yesterday.