Atlanta, GA 5/25/2011 12:12:38 AM
Death Toll in Joplin, Missouri Tornado Rises to 118
Missouri authorities say the death toll from Sunday’s
tornado in Joplin had risen from 89 to 118 by Tuesday. Officials say rescue
teams have pulled at least 17 survivors from rubble so far. About 1,500 other
Joplin residents remain unaccounted for.
Joplin Fire Chief Mitch Randles said rescue teams are
currently “searching every structure that's been damaged or destroyed in a more
in-depth manner.” “The third search is going to be similar to that. And then
the fourth search through will be with the search and rescue dogs,” he added.
Joplin Mayor Mike Woolston remains hopeful more people
will be found alive. “We hope that there are people alive. We have a number of
apartment buildings, complexes that are almost completely flattened. So we
anticipate finding more people, and hopefully we'll get there in time to find
them alive," Woolston said Monday.
The tornado, reported to be about 1 mile wide, touched
down in Joplin around 6 p.m. Sunday. The storm had winds of nearly 200 mph.
Joplin Emergency Management Director Keith Stammer told CNN’s “American
Morning” the twister rippled through the densely populated "central
portion of the city.”
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