Tornado touches down in Oklahoma, tosses around cars and wraps boats to trees

The devastation of toadoes hitting the South continued today as severe storms touched down in Oklahoma during rush-hour and caused at least seven deaths.

One twister that crossed Interstate 40 near El Reno claimed at least two lives and critically injured three children and a number of motorists, officials told CNN.

A total of four people died in Canadian County and at least three lives were taken in Cleveland County, authorities told News 9 in Oklahoma City.

Severe storms touched down in Oklahoma during rush-hour on Tuesday

But media reports of the actual death toll have varied - as would be expected among all the chaos.

A gas leak was caused at an energy plant, homes were destroyed and authorities were helping those injured, Canadian County Sheriff Randall Edwards said.

Two storms raked the southe side of Oklahoma City - in the same area hit in May  1999 by the strongest toado ever recorded.

The storms began at about 3pm in weste Oklahoma and followed tracks greater than 40 miles into the state capital.

State offices and a number of businesses let their workers go home hours earlier so they could be out of harm's way.

A dramatic video showed people covered in mud as they hugged each other and looked at the remains of their home, with reporters describing 'incredible' scenes.

Another toado was seen at Chickasha, 40 miles south west of Oklahoma City, and it later reached Newcastle. Drivers were waed to take extra care on Interstate 44.

'This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation,' a statement by the National Weather Service said.

A toado hit on Tuesday afteoon near Canton, weste Oklahoma, around 70 miles north west of Oklahoma City.

Damage: A twister that crossed Interstate 40 near El Reno claimed two lives and critically injured three children and a number of motorists, officials said

Serious problems: A gas leak was caused at an energy plant, homes were destroyed and authorities were helping those injured near El Reno

The twister damaged trailers with people inside and search dogs were brought in to ensure everybody survived the natural phenomenon.

Boats were wrapped around tress near Canton Lake and there were numerous natural gas leaks reported by Canton city employee Linda Hysell.

In Caddo County, Oklahoma, damage was reported near Lookeba and trees and power lines were down – but there were no immediate reports of injuries.

Toado sirens went off in Oklahoma City tonight and nearby towns as residents took cover from what was believed to be an EF5 - the highest toado category.

Damaged buildings were also reported by MNSBC in Fairview, Oklahamo; Calumet, Oklahoma; and Hugoton, Kansas.

Horrendous weather: Two storms raked the southe side of the city - in the same area hit May 3, 1999, by the strongest toado ever recorded

Other damage: The latest toadoes come after a huge twister moved through Joplin, Missouri

It follows the mile-wide toado that killed at least 118 people in Joplin, Missouri, blasted much of the city off the map and slammed straight into its hospital.

Forecasters also waed Joplin residents on Tuesday to prepare themselves for a looming system that has all the early signs of spawning more deadly toadoes.

About 1,500 people are still unaccounted for, it was announced on Tuesday, leading to fears that the death count could rise much higher.