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Florida storm, tornado kills 20
03/02/2007 23:10 - (SA)
Lady Lake, Florida - Rescuers stopped searching for bodies on Saturday and survivors dug out from under Florida's deadliest storm system in almost a decade, authorities said, after a tornado reportedly killed 20 people.
US President George W Bush declared a state of emergency in four counties after pre-dawn storms on Friday carved a trail of destruction and death, wrapping metal around trees and launching some victims into neighbouring homes.
"It's amazing to see how destructive and how surgical - the intensity of a tornado," said Charlie Crist, governor of Florida, which has seen many hurricanes.
He also declared an emergency in the four counties and said Florida residents have pulled together.
"They have poured out their hearts to help their fellow man," he told reporters.
Thirteen people died in Paisley and six in Lady Lake, Christopher Patton, a spokesperson for Lake County, told AFP. CNN television reported 20 dead. The toll is not expected to rise.
Some 1 500 homes were damaged or destroyed and an estimated 13 000 people were left without electricity after the storm, which uprooted trees and felled power lines.
- AFP
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