Part of roof ripped off US school as tornado hits while pupils inside, officials shut down town

Part of the roof came off Lena High School in Illinois, United States after a tornado hit while an elementary school was also damaged and it is understood that both schools had students inside at the time

Schools in a small town in the United States were damaged by a tornado while students were inside, according to reports, and the town has been shut down.

The town of Lena in north-western Illinois, near the Wisconsin border, has been shut after a tornado, part of a massive storm system, moved towards Chicago on Friday, April 17.

A tornado warning was issued for Lena, about 250 kilometres (about 155 miles west of Chicago) shortly before 5pm central time, the National Weather Service said.

Video from a livestream in Lena showed the huge rotating storm descending on the town, CBS news reported.

CBS news reported part of the roof came off Lena High School and also damage at the elementary school. It is understood that both schools had students inside when the storm hit.

No injuries were reported and the students were kept inside as the storm passed. It has been reported that extensive damage was caused to the exteriors. Officials have not yet released details about the extent of the damage.

The Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office asked people to avoid going to the town in a post on social media.

“There is no way to get into town due to trees and wires down,” the post said.

The Village of Lena Police Department also issued an alert on Facebook.

The post read: “Another storm is moving toward our area. We’re already dealing with damage from the earlier tornado, and conditions could get worse quickly. Take shelter now.”

“Do not go out to look at damage,” the post warns. “Stay off the roads.”

CBS News reported that at 6.20pm local time, the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office posted to social media that Lena is “Shut down” as they brace for a second round of storms.

“There will be NO traffic in or out of town per Sheriff Stovall until further notice. Emergency Services are assisting with storm damage,” the post reads.