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Tornadoes ripping through northwestern Pennsylvania, parts of Ohio and Ontario, Canada, killed at least 45 persons Friday evening, flattening homes and stores and injuring hundreds.
The death toll in eight counties of northwest Pennsylvania was 25. Another nine were reported killed in northeastern Ohio and at least 11 perished in Ontario. The tornadoes were the result of a single weather system.
In Albion, Pa., where state police said three tornadoes killed eight persons and injured 60, eight to 10 blocks were demolished and local officials estimated 150 to 200 homes were destroyed.
`Roofs Just Exploded'
"It's the most devastating scene I've ever seen in my life," firefighter Jim Ticknor said. "The funnel would come down, then lift up and hop to a different area, then it would start all over again. It just leapfrogged through town."
"Whole roofs just exploded," firefighter Fred Kiedaisch said. "There was debris 100 feet in the air."
In Beaver Falls, where two persons died, a twister ripped the roof off a department store, leaving only the walls standing and trapping an undetermined number of persons inside, police said. Rescue workers were pulling victims out two hours after it hit.
"It's very very bad. Buildings have been leveled. We've got a gas station gone across the road," said police Sgt. Charles Herdt.
A tornado that struck Cooperstown left six persons dead and more than 100 injured, emergency officials said.
Six Die in Niles, Ohio
In Niles, Ohio, a tornado cut a path about 200 feet wide and about 3 1/2 miles long, touching down at least three times...