NEW YORK
At least two people were killed and at least 20 others injured after two tornadoes ripped through the U.S. state of Illinois, according to local media.
The National Weather Service said one of the twisters that struck Thursday hit Rochelle, a city with a population of 9,500, about 80 miles (128 kilometers) northwest of Chicago and the other hit Fairdale, a town of about 200 people, 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of Rochelle.
Rescue workers are searching for more possible victims in the Chicago suburb of Fairdale, the Chicago Sun Times reported.
Almost all of the roughly 50 structures in the town suffered damage, according to fire officials.
"This town is absolutely devastated," Rockford Fire Department Chief Matt Knott Knott said in a press conference Friday.
The victims have been identified as Geraldine M. Schultz, 67, and Jacqueline Klosa, 69.
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner declared Ogle and DeKalb counties disaster areas on Friday.
“Out thoughts and prayers go out to the families affected,” he told reporters in Rochelle. “This was a devastating storm.”
At least 20 other people were injured in the disaster, including six who spent the night at hospitals, CBS Chicago said.
The threat of severe lighting storms would shift eastward from Virginia to the Gulf Coast, according to meteorologists.
The cities of Philadelphia, Washington, Raleigh and Charlotte are at the greatest risk of seeing severe storms Friday, according to the Weather Channel.
