Authorities reported that two people were killed in Oklahoma following a possible tornado on Wednesday night.

McClain County’s Sheriff’s Office confirmed two deaths in a post on Facebook. The McClain office said that they were responding to reports about injuries and trapped people in shelters.

Residents of Cole in the county, about 25 miles south-east of Oklahoma City were told Wednesday night to seek shelter immediately. At 7:39 pm, the county’s emergency services agency announced that a dangerous twister was over the town.

McClain Sheriff’s deputy Scott Gibbons had told reporters that there were more deaths or injuries than we knew about earlier.

Helicopter footage from NBC affiliate KFOR in Oklahoma City shows destroyed homes around Cole, a small town of 620 people.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Eric Foster informed reporters that Cole suffered significant damage, and that trees and electricity lines were down.

The rural nature of the area and the damage caused by the storms means that searchers will need to take their time in order to inspect damaged homes and storm shelters.

Foster explained that it would take time to search for the missing items. “We have to park and walk miles in order to reach many of these locations,” Foster said. “We know there are injuries.” “We do know there are significant damages to property.”

The University of Oklahoma in Norman, located east of Cole, warned everyone to take shelter immediately and stay away from the windows as dangerous storms approached. Later, the threat of tornadoes passed.

The weather service in Pottawatomie warned that a storm with tornado was approaching Shawnee. This city has a population of about 30,000. It was not immediately known if there were injuries.

It was also not immediately apparent what the extent of damage would be. KFOR broadcasted images of downed powerlines and damaged business signage in the city.

Pottawatomie County Emergency Management posted on Facebook that “too many” roads were blocked by power lines or debris. It encouraged people to stay at home so first-responders could perform their duties.

Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, said that classes would be canceled on Thursday and Friday. Students were also told to remain in their homes Wednesday night due to debris and downed electrical lines.

The university posted on Facebook that “no injuries have been reported, but the damage to campus has been significant.”

A cold front had caused the weather service to forecast severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in some parts of Great Plains on Wednesday.