'What a beast': Massive tornado sweeps through northern Illinois [video]

Quite a few storm chasers managed to capture amazing photos and video of a massive tornado that swept through Rochelle, Ill., Thursday evening.

What a beast. Scared for cars on this road. pic.twitter.com/zCOqPTyT7z

— Bryan Wood (@bryanwx) April 10, 2015

Large tornado a few minutes before 7pm CDT near Rochelle, IL. Via @blizzard_wuffy pic.twitter.com/19o8djhfJP

— U.S. Tornadoes (@USTornadoes) April 10, 2015

Unreal. North of Rochelle and Hillcrest take cover. pic.twitter.com/cSMiEhK3Cn

— Tom Demmer (@tomdemmer) April 10, 2015

LIVE NOW (7:01pm CDT): Wedge #tornado north of Rochelle, IL. Tune in to The Weather Channel for live video. #ILwx pic.twitter.com/XCnYe83UB0

— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) April 10, 2015

VIDEO: "That's going through subdivisions" — Large tornado tears through Rochelle, IL – [Stephanie Sego Curtis] pic.twitter.com/KBrxqPqwXP

— ABC News (@ABC) April 10, 2015

VIDEO: #Tornado that hit Rochelle #IL at 5:50 pm: https://t.co/zeYJwPBPiR via @YouTube #ILwx pic.twitter.com/ffT6GedrZI

— Johnny Kelly (@stormchaser4850) April 10, 2015

Large tornado touches down in Rochelle, Illinois; residents urged to seek shelter immediately http://t.co/0PIhoBzgYj pic.twitter.com/UBB2oSOnYR

— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 10, 2015

Video of violent, massive #tornado earlier that hit Rochelle, IL northwest of Chicago. http://t.co/0ctFr6vBjt

— Reed Timmer (@ReedTimmerAccu) April 10, 2015

~7:20 CDT: Just outside of Rochelle, IL (via Nate Rigs/@23WIFR) https://t.co/Yoxfqf8b7H pic.twitter.com/fUQ2b2pCXS

— Storm Chase Team at Penn State (@StormChaseTeam) April 10, 2015

Taken by my former met professor Dr. Walker Ashley at @NIUlive just north of Rochelle tonight. #ilwx pic.twitter.com/qpP4e4bI6R

— Jessica Quick (@JessicaABC17) April 10, 2015

EXTREME close-range video of monster #tornado near Rochelle, IL from @Basehunters and Extreme Tornado Tours http://t.co/4OLMwfbNlt

— Reed Timmer (@ReedTimmerAccu) April 10, 2015

Image of ongoing rescues from a home in Rochelle, IL; @LindseyClarkk says 5 people pulled out so far: pic.twitter.com/eOEoLnvIAH

— Sean Breslin (@Sean_Breslin) April 10, 2015

What's left of Grubsteakers Restaurant after tonight's tornado. 12 trapped in the basement, all safely rescued. pic.twitter.com/0YxVLtYukH

— Dan Cohen (@DanCohenWREX) April 10, 2015

* * *

Update:

https://twitter.com/MCusack_20/status/586339342970441729

@MCusack_20 I hope everyone is ok so sorry for the loss

— Haley©️ (@haleyfarmgirl) April 10, 2015

@MCusack_20 prayers sent from South Carolina. Saw the town on Google Maps, small town.

— ☈ Chris Jackson ☈ (@ChrisJacksonSC) April 10, 2015

@MCusack_20 Hi there, may we have permission to use this photo with credit?

— FOX 32 News (@fox32news) April 10, 2015

https://twitter.com/MCusack_20/status/586341829991202816

@MCusack_20 @Spiderwort52 Just awful. Prayers to all.

— Heidi McCausland (@hjs799) April 10, 2015

A lot of trees snapped, crews trying to cut way through town with chainsaws #fairdale @WISN12News pic.twitter.com/Vvdf3ZVTGG

— Ben Hutchison (@Ben__Hutchison) April 10, 2015

Closer look…walls and roof ripped off. Fire officials say ongoing search and rescue #fairdale @WISN12News pic.twitter.com/1YbMGILRJS

— Ben Hutchison (@Ben__Hutchison) April 10, 2015

Also told that "half the town was wiped out" by the tornado #Fairdale @WISN12News

— Ben Hutchison (@Ben__Hutchison) April 10, 2015