Tornado kills at least 89 in Missouri

A MASSIVE tornado that tore a 10km path across south-western Missouri killed at least 89 people as it slammed into the city of Joplin, ripping into a hospital, crushing cars like tin cans and leaving a forest of splintered tree trunks behind where entire neighbourhoods once stood.

Authorities warned that the death toll could climb as search and rescue workers continued their efforts. Their task was made more miserable as a new thunderstorm with strong winds and heavy rain pelted part of the city with hail.

City manager Mark Rohr announced the number of known dead at a pre-dawn news conference outside the wreckage of a hospital that took a direct hit from Sunday’s storm. Rohr said the twister cut a path nearly 10km long and more than a 1km wide through the centre of town. Much of the city’s south side was levelled, with churches, schools, businesses and homes reduced to ruins by winds of up to 165mph.