Joplin Tornado Killed 11 at Single Nursing Home

NWS says it was a rare and powerful 'multivortex' tornado
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted May 24, 2011 5:28 PM CDT
Joplin Tornado Killed 11 at Single Nursing Home
The path of a powerful tornado is seen in Joplin, Mo. Tuesday, May 24, 2011.   (Charlie Riedel)

At least 11 people were killed at one Joplin nursing home by the tornado that devastated the southwest Missouri city, the home's operator said today. Bill Mitchell, who operates Greenbriar nursing home on the city's south side, said 10 residents and a staff member were among the victims when four cars got tossed into the building. The overall death toll has now climbed to 122, making it the single deadliest tornado since the National Weather Service began keeping records in 1950.

City Manager Mark Rohr said more than 750 people were injured. Nine people also have been recovered from debris, and authorities say the search and rescue is continuing. At one site, emergency crews drilled through concrete at a ruined Home Depot, making peepholes in the rubble in hopes of finding lost shoppers and employees. The NWS said the twister appeared to be a rare "multivortex" tornado, with two or more small and intense centers of rotation orbiting the larger funnel. It was a highest-rated EF5 storm, with winds greater than 200 mph. Click to see video. (More Joplin tornado stories.)

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