US tornado death toll climbs to 116

JOPLIN, Missouri - A monster tornado killed at least 116 people in Joplin, Missouri, when it tore through the heart of the small Midwestern city, ripping the roof off a hospital and destroying thousands of homes and businesses.

Weather officials said the twister that struck the city of 50,000 at dinner time on Sunday was the deadliest single tornado in the United States since 1947 and the ninth-deadliest tornado of all time.

Authorities on Monday put the casualty toll at 116 dead and some 400 people hurt, many suffering severe internal injuries.