4 Boy Scouts killed, more hurt in tornado

BLENCOE, Iowa, June 11 (UPI) -- Four Boy Scouts were killed and an unknown number more were hurt Wednesday when a tornado slammed into their camp in western Iowa, a Scouts spokeswoman said.

Arli Hasbrouck of the Boy Scouts of America's Mid-American Council in Omaha confirmed to The Des Moines Register Four that four boys had died in the storm at the Little Sioux Scout Ranch located between Blencoe and Little Sioux in Iowa. She said she did not know how many were injured among the 100 youths, ages 14-18, from Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota who were at the camp.

"That's all we know at this point," she said. "We've got lots of Scouters on their way to help."

A National Weather Service meteorologist said the twister struck about 6:35 p.m, about 12 minutes after a warning went out.

Meanwhile, strong thunderstorms and tornadoes also were reported in southwestern and northwestern Minnesota. Funnel clouds were spotted near Worthington and Fulda, KARE-TV in Minneapolis reported. There were no reports of injuries but a manufactured house was pushed off its foundation, a barn was damaged, farm animals were hurt and trees damaged, the TV station.

Storm damage also was reported outbuildings and trees in the Sleepy Eye area.

In northwestern Minnesota, high winds knocked over semi-trailer trucks that blocked Interstate 94 for a time and causing power outages in the Fergus Falls area, KARE-TV reported.