Fred Harteis News - Children among 8 people killed by N.C. tornado

Fred Harteis News Articles - At least eight people were killed and nearly 20 injured Thursday when a tornado ripped through a mobile home park in this small town west of Wilmington, North Carolina, officials said.

"All of the fatalities were residents in the mobile homes," said Columbus County Emergency Services spokesman Kip Godwin.

At least two of those who died were under 18, said Columbus County Sheriff Chris Batten, who did not provide further details. Nineteen people were injured, four of them -- all children -- critically.

An area about half a mile wide and up to a mile long was "demolished," Batten told reporters. Some of the bodies were found about 200 yards beyond the twister's path, he said.

"We don't have any confirmed missing, but we are keeping our options open," he said. Search and rescue personnel were combing the area. "We want to cover every inch of the property."

The first report of the twister touching down came at 6:44 a.m., he said. The National Weather Service had issued a tornado warning for the area at 6:29 a.m. CNN meteorologist Chad Myers said it appeared the tornado "was on the ground for some time."

However, Batten said, there was no time to warn residents and no sirens were activated. When the weather service warning was received, he said, "We alerted our officers."

North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley told reporters earlier that as many as 13,500 homes were without power. Easley activated the state's Emergency Response Team and dispatched emergency crews to the area.

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Source; Cnn.com

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