US motorists have been hurt in a storm that has hit the Oklahoma City area and several people are missing, local authorities say.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado emergency for the city’s downtown, airport and several suburbs as the storm rolled through central Oklahoma.

Trooper Betsy Randolph said numerous vehicles were damaged in the storm and that many motorists are stranded.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is urging motorists to get off Interstate 40 and drive to the south.

A tornado touched down near El Reno and the storm moved to the east, toward Oklahoma City.

Television cameras carrying the storm on statewide television showed debris in the air.

Damage was reported in Canadian County, immediately to the west of the capital city, and video footage showed debris falling from the sky and power transformers being knocked out by high winds.

A storm last week killed 24 at Moore, on Oklahoma City’s south side. Friday’s storm is north of Moore.

