Coal City, IL tornado causes heavy damage

The National Weather Service has confirmed a tornado in Coal City, Illinois at 9:58 p.m Monday.

The tornado hit Coal City, Illinois, damaging homes, bringing down power lines and leaving roadways flooded. Storm damage closed Route 113 near Carbon Hill Rd. in Coal City, WGN-TV reported.

"Flooding has left many roadways impassable, and search crews have been working to remove people from their home," ABC News quoted Coal City’s Fire and EMS as saying.

The tornado formed near Coal City High School on the west side of town and moved southeast.

Tornado damage in Coal City, Illinois (WGN-TV Traffic/Twitter Image)

"Coal City, IL tornado has injured at least five people, though none are considered life-threatening," Coal City Police Sgt. Tom Logan told The Weather Channel. Many survivors were pulled from their basements.

An emergency shelter has been established at the Coal City High School.

At least 13 tornadoes have been reported across the United States Monday night. The National Weather Service said the towns of Coal City, Sublette and Mendota were among the hardest hit by the severe weather.

Governor Bruce Rauner has declared Grundy and Lee counties as disaster areas on Tuesday. The State Emergency Operations Center has been opened in Springfield to help coordinate the response to the tornado outbreak in Illinois.

A powerful damaging tornado in Illinois in April 2015 claimed life of a person and injured seven others. Tornadoes that hit central and southern Illinois in November 2013 claimed several lives and caused massive damage.