According to Missouri state police, four people were killed in a tornado that struck Missouri.

According to officials, the deaths were reported in Bollinger Country about 50 miles from St Louis.

After Wednesday’s storm, a search and rescue operation was launched. Crews had to use chainsaws in order to trim trees and bushes so they could reach their homes and buildings.

Missouri State Highway Patrol Sergeant Clark Parrott stated that the storm caused multiple injuries and multiple deaths, adding that the damage was quite widespread. It is just heartbreaking to witness it.

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Rescuers are combing through homes and businesses in southeastern Missouri to find the victims.

Officials in Glen Allen, a small village of just over 100 residents, said that there might still be missing people.

Bollinger County’s public administrator Larry Welker said that “I’m receiving reports that it was quite bad”. He also added that there were “several caravans” within the village.

According to the National Weather Service, the tornado struck Missouri around 3.30 AM local time.

The service said that it was just one of many that were spotted overnight in the Midwest.

According to the Storm Prediction Center, up to 40,000,000 people living in areas that include major cities like Chicago, Indianapolis and Detroit were at risk of severe storms on Wednesday.

A storm system that swept across the Midwest and South created the tornado.

Justin Gibbs is a National Weather Service meteorologist. He said that the tornado was stationary for approximately 15 minutes and traveled an estimated 15 to 20 mph.

Bollinger County was visited by a weather team that sought to collect details on the tornado.

Gibbs stated that it was obvious “it was an important tornado”.

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He stated that tornadoes can be particularly dangerous when they strike late at night or early morning.

He said, “It’s certainly a nightmare from the warning standpoint.”

It’s terrible at any hour, but especially at 3.30 AM.

These storms follow a series US tornadoes that left at least 32 dead in parts of the South, Midwest and Delaware just days before.

Many houses and buildings were damaged in Arkansas and Iowa .