A series of violent storms, including at least one tornado, have wreaked havoc in Illinois, with the highest-profile being the partial collapse of an Amazon distribution center in Edwardsville. Although the precise number is unknown, it is believed more than one hundred are trapped inside the structure.
Footage of the tornado believed to have hit the distribution center was captured by storm chasers Ridge Riders.
VIDEO of a TORNADO we just observed at 8:32pm southeast of Edwardsville, IL #ilwx #wxtwitter #tornado @NWSStLouis pic.twitter.com/Ze7h7t2sEe
— Ridge Riders (@Ridge_Riders_) December 11, 2021
Stormchaser Jake Thompson has reported the following:
There are warehouses, including Amazon warehouses, that this tornado hit just southwest of Edwardsville along Interstate 270. Per scanner traffic, mass causality incident declared for Pontoon Beach/Edwardsville. https://t.co/IEAT2zeDWm
— Jake Thompson (@ChaserJake94) December 11, 2021
Another user, a photojournalist with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch shared this frightening image:
Amazon distribution warehouse in Edwardsville, Ill. is partially collapsed after Friday tornado. pic.twitter.com/QUBKSYUIMP
— Robert Cohen (@kodacohen) December 11, 2021
Local television station KMOV reports:
Aisha White was on the phone with a family member who was inside the building at the time of the collapse.
“He was on the phone with me while it was happening,” she recalled. “The tornado was hitting the back of the building, the trucks were coming in, I told him to jump out the truck and duck. We watched the building go up, stuff hitting the cars, I told him I was on my way.”
There are unconfirmed reports of injuries inside the distribution center. Multiple first responders are at the scene.
As this is breaking news, RedState will provide updates as they become available.
A series of violent storms, including at least one tornado, have wreaked havoc in Illinois, with the highest-profile being the partial collapse of an Amazon distribution center in Edwardsville. Although the precise number is unknown, it is believed more than one hundred are trapped inside the structure. Footage of the tornado believed to have hit the distribution center was captured by storm chasers Ridge Riders. VIDEO of a TORNADO we just observed at 8:32pm southeast of Edwardsville, IL #ilwx #wxtwitter #tornado @NWSStLouis pic.twitter.com/Ze7h7t2sEe — Ridge Riders (@Ridge_Riders_) December 11, 2021 Stormchaser Jake Thompson has reported the following: There are warehouses, including Amazon warehouses, that this tornado hit just southwest of Edwardsville along Interstate 270. Per scanner traffic, mass causality incident declared for Pontoon Beach/Edwardsville. https://t.co/IEAT2zeDWm — Jake Thompson (@ChaserJake94) December 11, 2021 Another user, a photojournalist with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch shared this frightening image: Amazon distribution warehouse in Edwardsville, Ill. is partially collapsed after Friday tornado. pic.twitter.com/QUBKSYUIMP — Robert Cohen (@kodacohen) December 11, 2021 Local television station KMOV reports: Aisha White was on the phone with a family member who was inside the building at the time of the collapse. “He was on the phone with me while it was happening,” she recalled. “The tornado was hitting the back of the building, the trucks were coming in, I told him to jump out the truck and duck. We watched the building go up, stuff hitting the cars, I told him I was on my way.” There are unconfirmed reports of injuries inside the distribution center. Multiple first responders are at the scene. As this is breaking news, RedState will provide updates as they become available.