Tornado-Damaged Joplin, From Above

The death toll in Joplin, Missouri, has now topped 118, making Sunday's catastrophe the single deadliest tornado recorded in the United States since modern record keeping began 60 years ago. Rescuers continue their work despite hazardous conditions on the ground and the threat of major storms later this afternoon. Earlier today, AP Photographer Charlie Riedel took a trip in a helicopter to capture images of Joplin's devastated landscape from above. In these photos, the scale of the impact becomes clear, as the nearly mile-wide path of the tornado can be clearly seen curving through several neighborhoods, as can the destroyed hospital and high school. The American Red Cross has set up a number of shelters in the area and is taking donations. Those interested in contributing can either text REDCROSS to 90999 (for a $10 donation) or visit the Red Cross website.

Read more
Hints: View this page full screen. Skip to the next and previous photo by typing j/k or ←/→.

Most Recent

  • Eduard Korniyenko / Reuters
    • In Focus
    • 12:30 AM ET
    • 35 Photos

    Photos of the Week: Ghost Ship, Greek Spring, Naked Festival

    Dog catchers in Cairo, luge championships in Russia, flooding in parts of England, a crash at the Daytona 500, demining in Colombia, Carnival in Venice, and much more

  • Art Media / Print Collector / Getty
    • In Focus
    • February 20, 2020
    • 21 Photos

    The Great Sphinx of Giza Through the Years

    Images of the Sphinx over the past 170 years, from Maxime du Camp’s 1849 travel photo to 21st-century light shows

  • Alexey Malgavko / Reuters
    • In Focus
    • February 19, 2020
    • 21 Photos

    Homeless in Siberia: Surviving the Winter

    Images from the photojournalist Alexey Malgavko of some of the homeless inhabitants of Omsk, Russia

  • Aly Song / Reuters
    • In Focus
    • February 18, 2020
    • 30 Photos

    Photos: Life in the Time of Coronavirus

    Images from Wuhan, Beijing, Shanghai, and other locations in China over the past two weeks, as residents continue to cope with COVID-19

Most Popular on The Atlantic

  1. Bernie Sanders Is George McGovern
  2. The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake
  3. The First Days of the Trump Regime
  4. The Billion-Dollar Disinformation Campaign to Reelect the President
  5. Oh No, They’ve Come Up With Another Generation Label
  6. Tech Experts Are Pessimistic About Their Industry
  7. The Differences Between Warren and Sanders Matter
  8. John Kelly Finally Lets Loose on Trump
  9. Corporate Buzzwords Are How Workers Pretend to Be Adults
  10. Meat Trimmings Are a Health Food Now
Back to Top