Tornadoes rip central U.S., killing 28

CHICAGO, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Tornadoes spawned by a powerful storm system swept the central United States, wiping out two small towns and killing at least 28 people, local media reported Friday.

In Indiana, 14 people were killed. The entire town of Marysville was destroyed, and nearby Henryville also suffered extreme damage. In Kentucky, the storms claimed 12 lives and inflicted extensive property damage.

Storm warnings were being issued across the Midwest and the Southeast, with schools, government offices and businesses shutting down ahead of the storms.

There was "extensive damage" to the Henryville Junior-Senior High School in the Clark County, Indiana, according to Maj. Chuck Adams of the county sheriff's department.

The school building's roof was torn off, with parts of the walls knocked down and windows blown out.