Severe storms rip through midwestern US

Severe storms have ripped through part of the midwestern US state Iowa, spawning tornadoes that crushed homes and car and killed one person.

The National Weather Service said one person was killed in Muscatine County, where a tornado toppled the victim’s mobile home last night. The victim’s name was not released.

Twisters, high wind and hail toppled trees and cut off power to thousands across the region. No other injuries were immediately reported.

Residents sifted through debris downtown and in several neighbourhoods. “We’re in disaster mode,” an Iowa City dispatcher said.

At the University of Iowa, which the National Weather Service said was hit by one tornado, students were assessing the damage, including downed trees.

University spokesman Steve Parrott said classes have been cancelled for today while crews repair the campus and clear debris.

Downtown, severe winds blew cars around, and a roof collapsed at a shopping centre, police said.

MidAmerican Energy said about 7,000 homes and businesses in eastern Iowa were without power this morning. Crews were working through the night to restore it.

The weather service reported tornadoes in Tama, Linn, Muscatine and Johnson counties, with much of the damage occurring in Iowa City.

Officials were keeping an eye out for more tornadoes in east-central Iowa on last night, Donavon said.

The storms swept through northern Illinois, knocking down trees and power lines and prompting tornado warnings.

At least one tornado was spotted on the ground in Mercer County, the weather service said. Winds of 80 mph were reported in Warren County, where the roofs of two homes were heavily damaged, authorities said. There were no reports of injuries.