THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: More than 230 people have been killed by hundreds of tornadoes raging across the south of the United States, in the region's most devastating storm outbreak for almost 40 years.
Entire US towns were destroyed, as six states were struck by huge twisters. One that was captured on extraordinary video footage measured a mile wide – 20 times larger than the typical tornado.
States of emergency were declared by the governors of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee, and the death toll was expected to rise.
Alabama, one of America's poorest states, was worst hit. More than 131 people there died, 36 in the city of Tuscaloosa alone. Walter Maddox, its mayor, said the city had been "obliterated".
"I don't know how anyone survived," said Mr Maddox. "It's an amazing scene.
There are parts of the city I don't recognise and I've lived here my entire life." » | Jon Swaine, New York | Thursday, April 28, 2011
