Virginia hit by three twisters in a row

WEARY residents and business owners in Suffolk, Virginia returned to what was left of their homes and livelihoods yesterday after three tornadoes smashed houses, piled cars on each other and injured more than 200 people.

One twister cut a zigzagging path 40km long through residential areas, obliterating some homes in sprays of splintered lumber, and leaving others just a few feet away untouched.

Search teams with dogs found no sign of death or any additional injured victims, Suffolk city fire chief Mark Outlaw said.