First pictures of the missing as devastated parents search for children trapped beneath rubble of elementary school after tornado pulverizes Oklahoma suburb killing dozens

Devastated families are frantically searching for young children trapped under the rubble of an elementary school that was flattened after a monster two-mile wide tornado roared through Moore in Oklahoma, leaving dozens dead. Nine-year-old Janae Hornsby is among the children missing after Plaza Towers Elementary School was reduced to debris on Monday afternoon after the building took a direct hit during the 45 minutes of terror. Janae's heartbroken father, an Iraq veteran, and grandmother have released images of the young girl 'who always has a smile on her face' and have put out a desperate plea for information after they failed to reach Plaza Towers before the 200mph winds rattled through. She is among as many as 24 children aged between five and eight missing from the school, where seven youngsters were found drowned on Monday night after water pipes burst beneath the rubble. Initial reports said as many as 91 people across the suburb south of Oklahoma City could have been killed in the tragedy, but officials confirmed on Tuesday morning there have been 24 deaths. They now fear for as many as 40 others and expect the death count to rise. At least 240 people are injured, 60 of these children. President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster area in Oklahoma, ordering federal aid to supplement state and local efforts in Moore.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2328000/Oklahoma-tornado-2013-7-children-drowned-Plaza-Towers-Elementary-school-Moore.html