Officials say they have accounted for all the people who were missing after a powerful tornado hit the central U.S. city of Joplin, Missouri last month.

Missouri public safety officials say 134 people have been confirmed dead.

Authorities have said the bodies of some victims are so badly damaged, it has been necessary to use DNA and dental records to identify them.

The tornado tore through Joplin with winds topping 300 kilometers an hour, tearing apart homes and buildings, crushing cars and snapping trees.

The U.S. National Weather Service says the tornado was the deadliest to hit the U.S. since 1947. This has been the deadliest year in the United States for tornadoes since 1950.

On Sunday, U.S. President Barack Obama traveled to Joplin and praised the city's residents for their response to the storm. He also promised the people of Joplin that the government will support recovery efforts “every step of the way.”