Tornadoes injure several people in Kansas; touch down in Illinois, Oklahoma

Rescuers searched early Saturday for people believed trapped in a partially collapsed hospital after a massive tornado roared across this southwest Kansas community.

The tornado struck Friday night, leaving a broad swath of destruction in the Kiowa County town about 110 miles west of Wichita. For hours later, the same storm front continued to spawn tornadoes along a path stretching northeast from Greensburg through central Kansas.

Emergency medical crews, law enforcement personnel and search and rescue teams from throughout southwest Kansas and as far east as Wichita raced toward Greensburg after the twister struck.

All communications to the Kiowa County town of about 1,600 people were knocked out by the tornado, and the Kansas Department of Transportation sent its Communications on Wheels mobile unit from Wichita to restore 911 service.

No fatalities were immediately reported from violent weather along a front that stretched from the Oklahoma border to Nebraska.

At least six people from Greensburg were admitted to Pratt Regional Medical Center, the nearest hospital, and more were expected through the night, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Roads into and out of Greensburg, including U.S. 54, were closed for several hours to allow emergency vehicles to reach the town.

Sharon Watson, spokeswoman for the Kansas Adjutant General's Department, said the state fire marshal's office dispatched hazardous materials personnel because railroad cars in Kiowa County had overturned.

Watson said the National Guard was sending 40 troops to provide security around Greensburg.

Greensburg residents needing shelter were being taking to Haviland, where the high school and a small, private college had opened to accommodate them.

Watson said Main Street in Greensburg had sustained "significant" damage.

Elsewhere on Friday, three small tornadoes touched down in rural southwestern Illinois, but officials said there were no reports of injury or damage. Two tornadoes struck in Oklahoma, damaging some structures but injuring no one, officials said. In Colorado, severe thunderstorms prompted tornado warnings for at least six counties, but officials said there were no confirmed reports of tornadoes or damage.