Storm chasers capture deadly Ill. tornado — VIDEO

By BRENDAN O’BRIEN REUTERS

10 years ago

A Tornado is seen in Keystone Lake, Oklahoma, March 25, 2015. A storm system produced at least three tornadoes in Arkansas and Oklahoma on Wednesday, killing one person and injuring several others, officials said. REUTERS/Jeff Piotrowski TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A Tornado is seen in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, March 25, 2015. A storm system produced at least three tornadoes in Arkansas and Oklahoma on Wednesday, killing one person and injuring several others, officials said. REUTERS/Jeff Piotrowski TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A mobile home is on its side after tornadoes touched down in River Oak Mobile Home Park in Sand Springs, Oklahoma March 26, 2015. About 15,000 homes and businesses in Oklahoma and Arkansas were without power on Thursday after tornadoes touched down in the states a day earlier, leaving at least one person dead and scores of structures damaged. REUTERS/Kathryn Piotrowski

Workers from Rhema Church disaster team clean up after tornadoes touched down in River Oak Mobile Home Park in Sand Springs, Oklahoma March 26, 2015. About 15,000 homes and businesses in Oklahoma and Arkansas were without power on Thursday after tornadoes touched down in the states a day earlier, leaving at least one person dead and scores of structures damaged. REUTERS/Kathryn Piotrowski

Workers from Rhema Church disaster team clean up after tornadoes touched down in Sand Springs, Oklahoma March 26, 2015. About 15,000 homes and businesses in Oklahoma and Arkansas were without power on Thursday after tornadoes touched down in the states a day earlier, leaving at least one person dead and scores of structures damaged. REUTERS/Kathryn Piotrowski

A tree branch that has broke through a vehicle windshield is shown after tornadoes touched down in Sand Springs, Oklahoma March 26, 2015. About 15,000 homes and businesses in Oklahoma and Arkansas were without power on Thursday after tornadoes touched down in the states a day earlier, leaving at least one person dead and scores of structures damaged. REUTERS/Kathryn Piotrowski

At least two people were killed and 20 injured when a tornado ripped through a small northern Illinois town on Thursday night, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner said on Friday.

The tornado destroyed dozens of houses and businesses as it swept through Fairdale, Illinois, a small town about 75 miles west of Chicago.

“Our hearts and thoughts go out to those impacted by yesterday’s storms,” Rauner said in a statement.

Geraldine Schultz, 67 and Jacklyn K. Klosa, 69, were both killed in their Fairdale homes, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The tornado was one of several twisters that storm spotters reported in DeKalb and Ogle counties when a dangerous storm system rolled through the Midwest on Thursday evening.

Rauner declared both counties state disaster areas and said on Friday that several state agencies were supporting the residents and the cleanup effort.

A few miles southwest of Fairdale, damage was also reported in and around Rochelle, Illinois, where crews rescued people from the basement of Grubsteakers Restaurant, officials said.

Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said after the storm that his house, and the home of relatives living nearby, were among about 20 in Rochelle destroyed or significantly damaged. The sheriff said no one was taken to the hospital or reported missing.