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At least two people have died in a tornado which wiped out a hotel in Oklahoma, according to officials.

The American Budget Value Inn in El Reno took a direct hit, while a nearby mobile home park was wiped out.

It is not yet clear how many casualties there are from the disaster, which struck at 11pm on Saturday night.

City mayor Matt White told reporters that two fatalities had been confirmed, while an unknown number of people are missing.

He said: "It's been a serious, serious event here. We have all hands on deck."

In a press conference he described the scene at the mobile home park as "horrific".

(Image: Chad Estes/Twitter)

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A number of people were taken to hospitals, but authorities have yet to confirm the numbers involved.

Mr White said it was unclear how many people are still unaccounted for.

It is thought the two people who died were in the mobile home park, but they have yet to be identified.

Witnesses have described seeing casualties being pulled from the rubble.

Journalist Aaron Brilbeck posted dramatic footage of the storm, alongside the caption: "I’m in El Reno. I was just in a tornado. I’m ok but the hotel across the street from us was leveled. Victims are being pulled from the rubble."

Ramesh Patel, owner of the hotel, told KOCO: "As far as we know right now, there is no one in the rubble."

A member of staff suffered a broken leg, he said.

(Image: Chris Landsberger)

People in El Reno have been told to stay off the city's roads.

The tornado came just hours after the National Weather Service issued a warning about the impending storm.

It wrote: "You will NOT be able to see these tornado so don't even bother looking. You will not have much time to get to shelter."

A message from Chief Richard Stephens of the Union City Police Department, shared on Facebook, said: "Very dangerous situation tonight in El Reno. Severe damage with serious injuries and fatalities involved.

"Please pray for those effected by these storms as well as the emergency services workers assisting in this ongoing rescue.

"This is an unfortunate example of just how quickly these types of storms can develop from a simple thunderstorm into a deadly supercell tornado.

"Please remain weather aware and be prepared."

Further damage was reported to homes in Oklahoma City, which is around 17 miles from El Reno.

The latest disaster comes just days after a vicious tornado ripped through states in the southwest of the US.

Three people died and more than 100 were injured, with Jefferson City, Missouri among the worst places hit.

The bodies of Kenneth Harris, 86, and his wife Opal, 83, were found 600ft (182m) from their home in Golden City, which is in the southwestern tip of the state.

And Betty Berg, 56, died after her mobile home was obliterated.

In 2013 eight people - including three storm chasers - died when an EF-3 tornado struck El Reno.

TV personality Tim Samaras, from reality TV show Storm Chasers, was among them.