Storms rage

POWERFUL storms in the US mid-west left nearly half a million homes and businesses without power yesterday as the region braced for another day of 100 degree (37.7 celsius) heat.

The summer storm that tore through the midwest on Wednesday ripped off a section of airport roof and dumped it on a motorway, blew windows out of a hotel restaurant and baseball stadium press box and injured more than 30 people.

At least three St Louis area buildings had partially collapsed after the storms.