Tornado rips through Missouri city

As many as 30 people are reported killed after a tornado tore through the city of Joplin in the US state of Missouri, officials say.

The town suffered a "direct hit" from the tornado and parts of the city have been devastated, local media says.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has declared a state of emergency and warned more storms are on the way.

Last month, tornadoes and storms killed at least 350 people in Alabama and six other southern states.

Hospital pictures courtesy The Weather Channel