JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — An official in Joplin, Mo., says the death toll from massive tornado has risen to at least 139 people.
City spokeswoman Lynn Onstot released the updated total Saturday. It rose by seven from the last total.
The state has been working to pare down the list of people missing and unaccounted for in the wake of the deadliest single U.S. twister in more than six decades. It said Friday that the original list of 232 missing or unaccounted for residents had dropped to 156 by Friday, and planned to give an updated total later in the day.
Numbers describing last Sunday's storm are nothing short of numbing. The tornado — an EF5 monster packing 200 mph winds — was the deadliest since 1950 and more than 900 people were injured.
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