NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

US/ MASSIVE TORNADO KILLS 89 IN MISSOURI: A massive tornado that tore a 6 mile path across southwestern Missouri killed at least 89 people last evening as it slammed into the city of Joplin, ripping into a hospital, crushing cars like soda cans and leaving a forest of splintered tree trunks behind where entire neighborhoods once stood. Authorities warned that the death toll could climb as search and rescue workers continued their efforts today. Their task was made more miserable as a new thunderstorm with strong winds, heavy rain pelted part of the city with quarter-sized hail. The Joplin City manager announced the number of known dead at a pre-dawn news conference outside the wreckage of St John's Regional Medical Center, pictured top, which took a direct hit from Sunday's storm. He said the twister cut a path nearly 6 miles long and more than a 1/2 wide through the center of town. Much of the city's south side was leveled, with churches, schools, businesses and homes reduced to ruins. Tornado sirens gave residents about a 20 minute warning before the tornado touched down on the city's west side. The Jasper County emergency management director said about 2000 buildings were damaged, while the Joplin fire chief estimated the damage covered a 1/4 or more of the city of about 50,000 people some 160 miles S of Kansas City.

US/ TORNADOES STRIKE MINNEAPOLIS: At least 3 tornadoes ripped through the North side of Minneapolis and some suburbs on Sunday, tearing roofs off dozens of homes and garages, killing 1 person and injuring at least 30 others. In North Minneapolis, the tornado struck Sunday afternoon and plowed across a 3 to 5 mile area in a NE direction. Overhead television news footage of the aftermath showed dozens of homes and garages heavily damaged, pictured, many missing their roofs. Officials said about 200 homes may have been damaged. Trees and power lines also were downed along the path of the tornado. According to media repots, 1 person was killed by the storm, when a tree toppled onto a minivan. Thousands were without power in the region, however many had it restored within hours of the storm. The massive, slow-moving storm also caused major damage in other Minnepolis metro communities, most significantly St. Louis Park and Fridley.