A tornado has caused “multiple injuries and multiple deaths” in Missouri, US officials have said.
The tornado moved through Bollinger County, about 50 miles south of St Louis, on Wednesday morning, said Sergeant Clark Parrott of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Officials said a search and rescue operation had been launched and it was currently not known how many people had been injured or killed.
Sgt Parrott said it had caused “multiple injuries and multiple deaths”.
He added: “The damage is pretty widespread. It’s just heartbreaking to see it.”
He said the rescue operation involves multiple agencies.
Crews are having to use chainsaws to cut back trees and bushes to reach homes.
Teams of rescuers have been combing through damaged and destroyed homes and buildings across southeastern Missouri.
“There is damage and some injuries. We are still in the rescue phase,” said Bollinger County Emergency Management Coordinator Kevin Cooper.
There are reports 85 million Americans are at risk from the extreme weather on Wednesday.
The storms come just days after a series of US tornados killed at least 32 people.
Many homes and buildings were also destroyed in Arkansas, Iowa and Illinois.
