Many trapped after Amazon warehouse roof collapse near US city of St. Louis: What you need to know

Emergency crews respond at a damaged Amazon.com, Inc warehouse after a tornado passed through Edwardsville, Illinois, US.(Chris Phillips via Reuters)

Many people were trapped after a roof partially collapsed at an Amazon.com Inc warehouse near St. Louis in the U.S. state of Missouri late on Friday after tornadoes and strong storms roared through the area, local authorities said.

In a posting on Facebook, the agency did not give details, and there was no immediate word on how many people had been injured or killed.

Emergency service vehicles surrounded the scene.

Drone footage from the scene showed rescue workers picking through a huge area of debris in the pre-dawn darkness.

An Amazon spokesperson said the company was assessing the situation and damage at the facility.