Fatalities, damage reported after tornado strikes flooded El Reno, Oklahoma

Before and After of the American Budget Value Inn in El Reno, OK

Fatalities have been reported after a tornado caused extensive damage in El Reno, Oklahoma, late Saturday night.

Major damage was reported at the American Budget Value Inn and a nearby mobile home park near the Highway 81 and Interstate 44 interchange, according to KOCO-TV.

12:13AM – This is what is left of the American Budget Value Inn in EL Reno. Search and rescue operations are continuing. @kfor #OKWX pic.twitter.com/y6xDf2z2nd

— Aaron Brackett (@Aaron_Brackett) May 26, 2019

El Reno City Councilwoman Tracey Rider told News 9 that there are an unknown number of fatalities at the American Budget Value Inn, which apparently took a direct hit by the tornado.

One report on Twitter stated that debris was falling from the sky along a stretch of Interstate 40 near El Reno.

First responders are in the process of extricating people from the hotel that was reportedly leveled by the tornado, according to KFOR-TV.

There is no word on the number of injuries at this time.

“The City of El Reno’s Fire and Police departments would like to ask everyone to please stay off of the roads in El Reno so that the proper assessment of damages can be done,” KFOR-TV stated on Twitter.

Both sides of Highway 81 are closed at I-40 mile marker 125 due to debris and downed power lines, according to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

The El Reno Veterans of Foreign Wars has opened their doors for citizens needing shelter.

El Reno was already experiencing flooding, and a major sewer line break before the tornado hit.