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

  • Gwendoline Defente / EMAE via AP
    • In Focus
    • August 10, 2020
    • 16 Photos

    A Growing Oil Spill Off the Coast of Mauritius

    After running aground and being battered by waves for days, the MV Wakashio has leaked tons of fuel oil.

  • Wesley Hitt / Getty
    • In Focus
    • August 9, 2020
    • 35 Photos

    Arkansas: Images of the Natural State

    A few glimpses of the landscape of Arkansas, and some of the animals and people calling it home

  • Kiran Ridley / Getty
    • In Focus
    • August 7, 2020
    • 35 Photos

    Photos of the Week: Ribblehead Viaduct, Lobster Party, Dragon Splashdown

    Back to school in Georgia, a raccoon on the mike in California, Highland cattle in Scotland, damage after the explosion in Beirut, a pyrocumulus cloud in California, cooling in a pool in Spain, and much more

  • AFP / Getty
    • In Focus
    • August 5, 2020
    • 23 Photos

    The Aftermath of the Beirut Explosion

    Images of the widespread damage in Beirut, a day after the devastating blast

Most Popular on The Atlantic

  1. How to Stay One Step Ahead of Donald Trump
  2. The ‘Blue Shift’ Will Decide the Election
  3. The Facts Just Aren’t Getting Through
  4. The Return of Anonymous
  5. What Is MasterClass Actually Selling?
  6. Kamala Harris Did What She Had To
  7. How the Pandemic Defeated America
  8. What Ever Happened to the Gospel of Jesus’s Wife?
  9. Immunology Is Where Intuition Goes to Die
  10. The Coronavirus Is Never Going Away
Back to Top