AKIPRESS.COM - At least two people are dead after tornadoes ripped through the central U.S. on Tuesday.

One person died in Ottawa in Illinois’ LaSalle County on Tuesday afternoon, CBS Chicago reported.

The Times newspaper of Ottawa first reported one person was killed in the southern part of Ottawa. CBS Chicago reported that the deceased is a woman.

Patti Thompson, an Illinois Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman, said a tornado victim was killed by an uprooted tree.

Another person was killed when an apparent tornado ripped through Perry County, Missouri, about 80 miles south of St. Louis. Eight to 10 homes near the small town of Perryville were badly damaged and winds were so strong that several vehicles were blown off of Interstate 55. Perry County Clerk Jared Kutz said search and rescue crews were going door-to-door and checking the highway to see if there were other victims.

Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens said in a statement that a tornado was confirmed in Perry County. Authorities have not released any information about the person killed.

Tornadoes touched down in the upper Midwest and northern Arkansas on Tuesday as a spring-like storm system posed a risk to 45 million people. Hail fell so quickly that motorists had to pull over and stop in Missouri.