Fifty-two die as tornadoes hit U.S. South

By Pat Harris

The storms crumpled trucks on highways like toys and trapped and killed people in splintered houses, factories and shops.

Hardest hit were Tennessee -- where 28 died -- Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi and Alabama, with unconfirmed reports of 69 tornadoes swirling across these states and northward into Indiana, according to the National Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma.

The weather service and state officials said that in addition to the 28 killed in Tennessee, there were 13 dead in Arkansas, seven in Kentucky and four in Alabama. Injuries were widespread, with 149 people hurt in Tennessee alone.

A tornado struck the Columbia Gulf Transmission company in Hartsville, Tennessee, and set off a natural gas fire that lit up the early morning sky, officials said.

"In the path of it there is nothing left and on either side of it things are standing just like nothing has happened. It's an amazing picture to see."

Inspection of the damage began by mid-morning Wednesday, with the last tornado reported at about 6:25 a.m. CST (12:25 p.m. British time) in Jackson County in northeastern Alabama, the weather service said. Forecasters were still concerned about potential tornado activity in Georgia in the afternoon.

"The lightning and rain started back up suddenly and then we could see the funnel cloud through the lightning," she said. "The preacher's brick house across the street was destroyed and a mobile home nearby was nothing but a few pieces of tin."

Two states hit by the tornadoes, Arkansas and Tennessee, were among the 24 "Super Tuesday" states that held nominating contests before November's presidential election. Several candidates expressed condolences to victims as they addressed supporters.

"It's a pretty rough night in the scope of it. I don't know if I can remember when we've had as many (tornado) warnings and touchdowns," Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe said by telephone.

The Jackson Sun newspaper in Tennessee reported a nursing home was seriously damaged but the 114 residents were evacuated safely. A college in Jackson also was damaged, briefly trapping some students in dormitories.