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At least 24 fatalities, including 7 children, were reported after a record-breaking tornado swept through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, destroying hundreds of buildings and two schools. Original reports put the number at 51 deaths. A large tornado touched down on Monday in Moore, Oklahoma, a suburb of Oklahoma City, causing catastrophic damage to several housing developments and at least two schools in the area. A local television news helicopter tracked the tornado as it moved through the area, and then began to survey the extensive destruction to the region. "We have got good news. The number right now is 24," said Amy Elliott, chief administrative officer at the Oklahoma City Medical Examiner's Office. The prior figure of 51 dead may have included some double-reported casualties, Elliott said. "There was a lot of chaos," she added. Elliot said all but three bodies that have been recovered have been identified and are being returned to their families. She cautioned that additional bodies could yet be recovered from the rubble. Mayor of Moore, Glenn Lewis told CNN on Tuesday that the rescue effort is continuing and "we're very optimistic we might find one or two people." Over 233 were injured by the tornado, including around 70 children. Many of the victims being treated at two local hospitals. Authorities say that 101 people have been rescued from the rubble thus far. President Barack Obama declared a major disaster area in Oklahoma, ordering federal aid to supplement state and local efforts. "We don't yet know the full extent of the damage from this week's storm -- we don't know the human or economic losses that may have occurred," Obama said in a statement. "Our prayers are with the people of Oklahoma today and we will back up those prayers with deeds for however long it takes." Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin said on Tuesday that her state will rebuild and asked for prayers throughout the rescue and recovery process. "Will we be back? Absolutely. Oklahoma has gone through this a couple times and we're resilient, strong, courageous people," Fallin said on ABC's Good Morning America. Monday's storm appeared to be the deadliest tornado since 2011, and one of the worst in the last 20 years according to the Atlantic. The town lies in the center of 'Tornado Alley,' an area west of the Mississippi River stretching from north Texas to South Dakota, known for its frequent and powerful tornado systems. http://on.rt.com/yyk526