Indiana tornado kills 18, injures at least 160

EWBURGH, Ind., Monday (Reuters) A tornado tore through southern Indiana and parts of Kentucky early on Sunday killing at least 18 people and injuring more than 100, many of whom were sleeping when the twister hit, officials said.

At least six people were confirmed dead in Warrick County and at least 12 were killed in Vanderburgh County in Indiana, according to county officials. Hospitals reported taking in at least 160.

"We've had severe damage," said Newburgh Assistant Fire Chief Chad Bennett. "Homes were totally devastated. People are having to try to crawl out of their homes."

Officials said the death toll could climb as rescue workers picked through rubble in house-to-house searches and searched farm fields.At least two people were found dead in soybean fields in Warrick County, according to the Newburgh fire department.

The Eastbrooke mobile home park in Evansville, Indiana, was one of the places hardest hit when the tornado came roaring through well before dawn. Many homes there were reduced to piles of twisted metal that lay mixed with the remains of downed trees and other debris.In one trailer home, rescue workers found a young mother still alive but her husband and daughter were dead and her 2-year-old was missing, said Eric Williams, chief deputy of the sheriff's department in Vanderburgh County.