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.