Metro East Sun

State Rep. Amy Elik (R-Fosterburg) on Dec. 11 appealed for prayers for the victims of a tornado outbreak that impacted Illinois and five other states.

A tornado slammed into an Amazon facility in Edwardsville – some 280 miles from Chicago – during a shift change on the night of Dec. 10, killing six people, ABC News reported.

Elik said on Facebook that search and rescue operations at the warehouse “are still underway,” urging the public to refrain from visiting the site.

“I have been in contact with officials from IEMA, the governor's office and others, and stand ready to assist in any way they need,” the legislator posted. “The best way we can assist at this time is to stay away from the area and allow the emergency crews to work safely. Please pray for those who lost their lives, for their families and for the Amazon workers.”

The deceased workers, Chicago’s ABC7 reported, have been identified: 28-year-old Deandre S. Morrow of St. Louis, 62-year-old Keven D. Dickey of Carlyle, 29-year-old Clayton Lynn Cope of Alton, 34-year-old Etheria S. Hebb of St. Louis, 46-year-old  Larry E. Virden of Collinsville, and 26-year-old Austin J. McEwen of Edwardsville.

Amazon told the station that when a facility is notified of a tornado in its vicinity, employees, in turn, are directed to go into a shelter.

Edwardsville Fire Chief James Whiteford told ABC News that the tornado caused both sides of the facility used to prepare orders for delivery to collapse inward and the roof to cave.

Whiteford added that search efforts are expected to take several days.

People magazine's website reported that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos felt heartbreak over what he described was a “tragic” situation at the Edwardsville warehouse.

"We're heartbroken over the loss of our teammates there, and our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones," Bezos said in a statement. “All of Edwardsville should know that the Amazon team is committed to supporting them and will be by their side through this crisis."