among the dead was university ofala

among the dead was university ofalabama student john servati, who perished saving the ife of his girlfriend from a wall that fell and would have otherwise crushed her , the clarion-ledger reported

' i called my coach when i found out this morning; we just kind of bawled for a moment,' high school friend colton fremont said

'it was surreal to hear one of my best swimming friends I've had my entire life is gone just like that''.

People in Tupelp, mississippi sifted throgh the rubble of their destroyed homes and businesses

some grilled hotdogs and hamburgers to hand out for free to those in need

youths helpedremove debris and fallen tree limbs from elderly people's homes and yards

'' i am just oevrwhelmed-the damage is overwhelming, of course, but the outpouring of people to lend a hand and give ot water and food, it is just tremendous'' said Denise hardin of the Tupelo Housing Authority that manages many neighbourhood properties

the tornado that ripped through louisville, mississppi, was given a preliminary rating of at least EF4 by national weather forecasters

at 265-320kph, that would make ther storm one of the stongest to strike the united states this year. AFP