At least one confirmed dead after storm causes southern Illinois Amazon warehouse roof collapse

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — At least one person died at an Amazon facility in Edwardsville, Illinois, the city’s police chief Mike Fillback told reporters Saturday morning, according to the Associated Press.

The collapse was reportedly caused by either straight-line winds or a tornado moving through the area, according to KMOV-TV.

The roof of the building was ripped off and a wall about the length of a football field collapsed.

The Associated Press reported that a large tornado was reported in the Edwardsville area at about the time the building was damaged. The National Weather Service office near St. Louis issued reports of “radar-confirmed tornadoes” in the Edwardsville area.

First responders were called to the warehouse after reports of people trapped inside.

One official told KTVI-TV that up to 100 people were believed to be in the building, working the night shift, at the time of the collapse.

Two people at the facility were taken by helicopter to hospitals in St. Louis, Fillback said. The chief said he did not know their medical conditions, according to The Associated Press.

The state’s governor tweeted that he was aware of what happened at the warehouse and said, “My prayers are with the people of Edwardsville tonight, and I’ve reached out to the mayor to provide any needed state resources.”

Amazon is assessing the damage at its facility and said in a statement: “Our thoughts, prayers, and deepest sympathies are with the victims, their loved ones, and everyone impacted. This is a devastating tragedy for our Amazon family and our focus is on supporting our employees and partners.”

Storms in Illinois, Arkansas were among several places in the Midwest that reported the occurrence of tornadoes.

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