Illinois Tornado Watch: Large Twister Causes Widespread Damages in State

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A massive tornado hit northern Illinois on Thursday, leaving at least one dead and 7 injured, reported Fox News. The National Weather Service cautioned residents through Twitter, saying that a tornado is expected and that those in the path should "seek shelter immediately."

DeKalb coroner Dennis Miller says an old woman was found dead inside her home at Fairdale, reported Fox News. Mathew Knott of Rockford Fire Department division has reported that about seven people were injured and almost 50 houses in Fairdale were either damaged or completely flattened, according to The Guardian.

Robin Biggs, an employee at the Super 8 motel in Rochelle said that the tornado "took everything out in its path."

She added, "I have lived her 18 years and I have never seen a tornado that big or stay on the ground that long. What we have is a small one touching the ground and going right back up, but this just stayed down and went all the way across the horizon," reports Fox News.

Knott noted that the emergency personnel were searching the houses to rescue victims who were trapped under the debris of the damaged structures, says The Guardian.

According to Chron, Raymond Kramer 81, who was trapped in the storm cellar of a restaurant, said that 12 of them were rescued without any injury. Kramer, who was taking photographs of the storm, was ordered by the owner of the restaurant to seek shelter in the storm cellar.

He narrated, "No sooner did we get down there, when it hit the building and laid a whole metal wall on top of the doors where we went into the storm cellar. When the tornado hit, we all got a dust bath. Everyone in there got shattered with dust and debris falling out of the rafters."

Ken DeCoster, Winnebago County Sheriff's spokesman said, "funnel clouds also were spotted near Rockford, a few miles north, but did not touch down. However, there were reports of extensive damage in an area southeast of the city in the unincorporated community of Fairdale in DeKalb County," reports The Herald News.

About 850 flights at Chicago's O'Hare International airport and 45 fights at Midway International airport were cancelled due to the storm.

Summerfield Zoo in Belvidere posted on Facebook saying, "We are heart-broken at the devastation," reports 5 NBC Chicago.