DOZENS of people have died, including several children, after an enomrous twister more than a mile wide tore through Okalhoma City.

Authorities said the death toll was 91 but warned it could rise as rescuers combed through wreckage looking for bodies.

The enormous tornado flattened the neighbourhood of Moore, a suburb of about 55,000 people, as it travelled across the city in a trail of destruction that lasted just 45 minutes.

Wind speeds reached more than 200mph as roofs were ripped off and walls collapsed.

One of the builds hit by the twister was an elementary school. In the aftermath rescuers formed a human chain to pass children down the line to safety.

Survivor Ricky Stover almost broke down as he told a TV news crew about his brush with death.

Mr Stover's home was in the path of the tornado and as it approached he ran into the basement and locked the hatch.

However, he said: "It got louder and next thing you know is you see the latch coming undone.

"We couldn't reach for it and it ripped open the door and just glass and debris started slamming on us and we thought we were dead, to be honest."

Authorities have mobilised the National Guard to assist the rescue and declared a state of emergency.

And weather forecasters warned the storm is not over yet with dozens of towns and cities in the path of more tornados.