Awwal 19, 1432 H/April 23, 2011, SPA -- Officials at the Lambert St Louis International Airport Saturday said the facility might be shut for days after massive damage caused by what is believed to have been a tornado, dpa cited local broadcaster KSDK as reporting. Video of the damage showed knocked out windows and a large hole in the roof of one concourse. KSDK reported debris on runways and said workers were also clearing debris inside the terminal by throwing it out windows. The airport is running on generator power, it reported. However, of the 500 people at the airport when the severe weather struck, only four had to be hospitalized, reported the broadcaster. Many others were being treated for cuts and scrapes. It was reported that two planes full of passengers had been stranded on the tarmac during the storm and then had to stay there because of the debris. One passenger reported that winds lifted his plane and shoved it about seven metres. Widespread damage from the storm has been reported across the St Louis area and a state of emergency has been declared. As of yet, no fatalities have been reported, according to the broadcaster CNN. However, several people required hospitalization.
