US Midwest Hit By Severe Tornadoes: Three Dead

At least five people have been killed as powerful tornadoes sweep through the US Midwest, tearing through communities and destroying homes.

An elderly man and his sister were killed when a tornado hit their farmhouse in the town of New Minden, in rural southern Illnois.

And a third person was killed when a tornado struck the city of Washington in Illnois, and authorities confirmed two other deaths.

The devastation left behind by a tornado in Washington, Illnois

Tornadoes and damaging winds have already hit and caused extensive damage in a number of communities in Illnois, Kentucky, Indiana and Missouri, but authorities say as many as 10 states could be affected.

Homes have been flattened, cars overturned, trees uprooted and dozens of people injured.

One hospital in Peoria, Illinois, reported 24 patients in the emergency room. Eight of those patients were trauma victims, some with head injuries and broken bones.

The storm caused major damage

Forecasters warned of a "very dangerous" and fast-moving weather system across the US Midwest threatening 53 million people.

"We obviously have a very dangerous situation on our hands and it's just getting started," said Laura Furgione, deputy director of the National Weather Service.

They said there was a possibility of intense tornadoes, large hail up to two inches in diameter, and damaging winds reaching speeds of more than 80mph.

Anthony Khoury described what happened where he lived in Washington, Illnois, as a twister ripped through the city.

A car stands crushed beneath a fallen tree in Pekin, Illnois

He told Sky News: "Most of my neighbourhood is completely destroyed, everything has been demolished.

"Families have lost their homes, people don't have anywhere to sleep and the electricity has gone."

A large tornado struck outside Peoria, Illinois, meteorologists said, and the community of Washington in central Illinois has also been particularly hard-hit. 

One resident said his neighbourhood was wiped out in a matter of seconds by what appeared to be a tornado.

Ten states may be affected by the storms (Pic: National Weather Service)

"I stepped outside and I heard it coming. My daughter was already in the basement, so I ran downstairs and grabbed her, crouched in the laundry room and all of a sudden I could see daylight up the stairway and my house was gone," Michael Perdun said.

"The whole neighbourhood's gone, (and) the wall of my fireplace is all that is left of my house."

Jeff Leeman was working in his backyard when a tornado struck Pekin, Illnois, south of Peoria.

He said: "My son said, 'there it is', and in a matter of seconds we turned around and it was right on top of us. We hustled in the house and before we knew it, it was gone. It was that fast."

The Baltimore Ravens' game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field was temporarily suspended in the first quarter due to lightning in the area.

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