© Joe Raedle / Getty ImagesKevin Chew prays by his father's casket Saturday in Seneca, Mo. Raymond Chew Sr., 66, died of injuries sustained in the tornado.
That makes this the deadliest year for tornadoes since 1953, based on an assessment of figures from the National Weather Service.
If the death toll does stand at 139, it would place this year's tornado death toll at 520. Until now, the highest recorded death toll in a single year was 519 in 1953.
Missouri says the number of people still unaccounted for since the Joplin tornado May 22 is now 100. State Department of Public Safety Deputy Director Andrea Spillars said Saturday that within that number, nine people have been reported dead by their families, but state officials are working to confirm. She said the temporary morgue has 142 human remains, but that includes partial remains.
"Some of those remains may be the same person," she said, adding that officials are trying to use scientific means rather than relying on relatives' visual identifications.
The state has been working to pare down the list of people missing and unaccounted for in the wake of the deadliest single U.S. twister in more than six decades.
Rohr acknowledged Friday afternoon that there may be "significant overlap" between the confirmed dead and the remainder of the missing list. Still, search-and-rescue crews were undeterred, with 600 volunteers and 50 dog teams out again across the city.
"We're going to be in a search-and-rescue mode until we remove the last piece of debris," Rohr said.
The tornado -- an EF5 packing 200-m.p.h. winds -- was the deadliest since 1950, and more than 900 people were injured.
It says in the article
"If the death toll does stand at 139, it would place this year's tornado death toll at 520. Until now, the highest recorded death toll in a single year was 519 in 1953."
Yet the headline says the highest since 1953.
As 520 > 519, the headline should read:
"2011 Now Deadliest Year for Tornadoes in recorded history."
Osit.