A tornado has torn through eastern Kansas, leaving at least five people injured.

At least one person is in critical condition at an area hospital, according to local first responders.

Eureka, Kansas, a town of approximately 2,400 residents, bore the brunt of the damage to homes and buildings.

Several trees were uprooted and electricity is out for nearly 6,000 people in the immediate area. Westar Energy company said at least 1,800 of those were in Eureka.

According to the local NBC News affiliate, the Greenwood County Sheriff said people only had about four minutes warning, even with an emergency siren, before the tornado came through.

Galdis Tannahill told the local news station KWCH: “You looked out and see all the metal flying by and all the trees and it just kept blowing”.

Resident Lane Neighbors said he and family were “all freaking out”.

"We felt the vibrations. The door was swinging open, vibrating...We were probably in there for two, three minutes. It felt like hours but everything was gone when we came back out,” he said.

Funnel cloud spotted in Oklahoma as tornados hit the area

Kansas Governor Jeff Coyler has declared a state of emergency, with the storm being the second to hit the town in as many years.

In July 2016, the town had been hit by another tornado that caused severe damage.

Tornadoes kill at least 248 in US Show all 6 1 /6 Tornadoes kill at least 248 in US Tornadoes kill at least 248 in US Michael Dunn is hugged by his mother Patricia Dunn as they stand in the road that lead to his house which was completely destroyed after a tornado touched down, Wednesday, April 27, 2011 in Concord, Alabama AP Photo/Birmingham News, Jeff Roberts Tornadoes kill at least 248 in US Residents survey the destruction after a tornado hit Pratt City, Alabama AP Photo/Butch Dill Tornadoes kill at least 248 in US Extensive damage is seen after what appeared to be a tornado ripped through parts of Concord, Alabama AP Photo/Birmingham News, Jeff Roberts Tornadoes kill at least 248 in US An unidentified emergency responder combs through the wreckage of a destroyed home after a tornado touched down, Wednesday, April 27, 2011 in Smithville, Mississippi AP Photo/The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, C. Todd Sherman Tornadoes kill at least 248 in US Faye Hyde sits on a mattress in what was her yard as she comforts her granddaughter Sierra Goldsmith, 2, in Conord Alabama. Their home was completely destroyed AP Photo/The Birmingham News, Jeff Roberts Tornadoes kill at least 248 in US Rescue workers search a hillside after what appeared to be a tornado ripped through parts of Concord, Alabama AP Photo/Birmingham News, Jeff Roberts

Rescue crews spent much of the night going through each building, searching for survivors and assessing structural damage.

Displaced residents have been taking refuge in a local church and two Red Cross shelters.