Storm halts twister rescue effort

A thunderstorm is hampering rescue efforts in an American city flattened by a tornado yesterday.

116 people are now known to have died in Joplin, Missouri after the twister turned homes into rubble, ripped huge chunks out of a hospital, and killed at least 89 people.

Rescue workers are carefully digging through the rubble looking for survivors.

The devastation is so total, this police officer says the number of casualties is hard to estimate.

"The city's initial priority is to take care of the injured by completing a thorough search and rescue effort. We have continued this through the night and we anticipate this effort will be going on for the next couple of days," he says.

Road signs and debris have been carried almost 100 kilometres away.

- Newstalk ZB