美国中西部遭强龙卷风袭击 美国, 龙卷风, color

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Powerful tornadoes have swept through the US Midwest, destroying buildings and overturning vehicles in the states of Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky.

美国中西部地区遭到强大的龙卷风袭击，伊利诺伊州、印第安纳州和肯塔基州部分房屋被破坏，汽车也被吹翻。

The fast-moving storm levelled houses and tossed cars around like toys.


At least five people were killed and it is feared that several hundred people may have been injured in the fast-moving storms.

A number of people are said to be trapped inside buildings.

Forecasters say up to 53 million people could be affected. Hailstones the size of tennis balls have been reported.

The rapid-moving storm - with winds of up to 111km/h (68mph) - is continuing its way east.

November is ordinarily one of the quietest months in the tornado calendar, meaning these storms are unusually destructive for this time of year, the BBC's Nick Bryant in New York reports.

'War zone'

All the fatalities were reported in Illinois, which was the hardest hit state.

One person died in the town of Washington, Melanie Arnold of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. She provided no further details.

Two further people died in southern Massac County, while an elderly man and his sister were killed when a tornado struck their farm house in the village of New Minden.

Eyewitnesses described how large parts of Washington had been levelled by the tornadoes.

Illinois officials are describing the situation as "dangerous and
volatile（不稳定的）".
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