10 gut-wrenching images from the devastating Oklahoma tornado

Workers help free a woman trapped at the Moore hospital complex on Monday.

(Image credit: REUTERS/Gene Blevins)

last updated 8 January 2015

On Monday, a massive tornado ripped a path of destruction up to a mile wide and 20 miles long through Moore, Okla. Entire neighborhoods, a medical center, and two elementary schools where churned up and spit back out by the tornado's 200 miles-per-hour winds. At least 24 people are already confirmed dead, and more fatalities are expected.

Today, the people of Moore have climbed out of their shelters to survey the ruins and try to salvage what's left. Here, a collection of heartbreaking photos of daring rescues, tearful reunions, and families taking in their unthinkable new reality.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Lauren Hansen produces The Weekâ€™s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.