Six killed by tornadoes ripping through U.S. Midwest
DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) - Tornadoes killed four peopleat a boy scout camp in Iowa and two others in Kansas late onWednesday as more than 30 twisters ripped through the U.S.Midwest, rescue officials said.
The deadly twisters were among more than 30 that roaredthrough four Midwestern states, including one that struck theLittle Sioux Scout Ranch in western Iowa about 6:35 p.m. CDT(10:35 p.m. British time), killing four and injuring at least20, authorities said.
Search and rescue operations at the scout camp where dozenshad gathered for a summer retreat continued early Thursdayafter a storm-wracked night. Officials had yet to say how manyof the dead were adults or boys.
The tornadoes in Kansas touched down after 10:30 p.m. CDT(4:30 a.m. British time Thursday), ripping throughneighborhoods in the northeastern part of that state.
One woman was found dead in the yard outside her home inChapman, Kansas, and a man was later found dead outside amobile home in Soldier, Kansas, said state emergency managementoperations spokeswoman Sharon Watson.
The Kansas twisters injured dozens and destroyed at least60 homes. One struck Kansas State University, authorities said.
In Iowa, 92 campers and 25 adults were at the scout campwhen the tornado struck, said Tina Potthoff, spokeswoman forthe Iowa Emergency Operations Centre. In addition to the fourdead, at least 20 and possibly up to 40 people were injured,she said.
Iowa officials said the state National Guard had beenmobilized to assist in search and rescue operations, work thatwas complicated by the heavily treed area where the camp waslocated and additional lightning strikes and heavy rain.
Heavy rain was forecast for Thursday throughout thestricken areas.
The scouts had been attending an annual "Pohuk Pride"weeklong junior leader training event at the 1,800-acre (730hectare) ranch, which has four cabin shelters, a 15-acre (6hectare) lake, a rifle range and six hiking trails.
"We are profoundly saddened ... our heart goes out to allof the families and the children affected by this horrifictragedy," said Gov. Chet Culver.
At least two tornado warnings were issued for the LittleSioux area before the twister struck. State officials said theydid not know if there were any warning sirens operating at thecamp, however.
The tornado was one of more than 30 reported late Wednesdaymoving across eastern Kansas into Nebraska, Iowa and intoMinnesota, according to Storm Prediction Centre.
The tornadoes were accompanied by baseball-sized hail andvicious winds, and came in addition to rampant flooding thathas forced hundreds from their homes in Iowa.
Culver has declared 54 of Iowa's 99 counties disaster areasdue to damage from the flooding and tornadoes. (Additionalreporting by Carey Gillam in Kansas City, editing by PhilipBarbara)