A series of tornadoes in the American Midwest has claimed 8 lives and affected 53 million people in 12 states

A series of tornadoes in the American Midwest has claimed 8 lives and affected 53 million people in 12 states. Dozens of tornadoes swept across the Midwestern region of the United States on the 17th local time. Currently, tornadoes...

After the storm weakened, it moved northeastward early Monday morning. Although wind speeds have dropped to 50 miles per hour, they can still cause power outages and disrupt flight takeoffs and landings.

According to Fox News, the town of Washington (Washington) in central Illinois, about 140 miles southwest of Chicago, was particularly severely affected. State Trooper Dustin Pierce said the tornado cut a path about an eighth of a mile (200 meters) wide through the town.

Illinois Republican Rep. Aaron Schock said, "Whole communities were wiped out. ... I went to see some 20-30-family neighborhoods, and there wasn't a house left." He added, "The entire town of Washington was destroyed."

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said they received reports of 81 tornadoes. Severe weather caused severe damage in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio.