Demolition begins on St. John's hospital in Joplin

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) -- Demolition work is under way on the Joplin hospital that took a direct hit from the deadly tornado last year.

Demolition crews began work Wednesday with a 5,000-pound wrecking ball on what remains of St. John's Regional Medical Center, emptied since the May 22, 2011, EF5 tornado wiped out a huge swath of Joplin. The tornado killed 161 people, including six people at the hospital.

Hospital spokeswoman Angella Saporito says crews will dismantle the hospital's two, multi-story towers, taking the buildings down in sections. She says the entire process is expected to take several weeks.

The building is being replaced with a new complex along Interstate 44. The new hospital is scheduled to completed in 2015.

The hospital held a ceremonial start to the demolition in January.

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