DHAKA: At least six people were killed when dozens of tornadoes and intense thunderstorms swept across the US Midwest on Sunday, unleashing powerful winds that flattened entire neighbourhoods, flipped over cars and uprooted trees.

An elderly man and his sister were killed when a tornado hit their home in rural southern Illinois.

Four other people were killed in the state, the hardest hit by the tornados, said Patti Thompson of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

She did not provide details, reports The Straits Times.

Illinois Govenor Pat Quinn declared seven counties disaster areas.

With communications difficult and many roads impassable, it remained unclear how many people were killed or hurt by the unusually strong late-season tornadoes.

BDST: 2045 HRS, NOV 18, 2013
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