Several Tornadoes Devastate Central Iowa Towns (PHOTOS) | The Weather Channel
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Several Tornadoes Devastate Central Iowa Towns (PHOTOS)

Vehicles are covered in rubble from a tornado damaged building, Friday, July 20, 2018, in Marshalltown, Iowa. Several buildings were damaged Thursday evening by a tornado in the main business district in town including the historic courthouse. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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Vehicles are covered in rubble from a tornado damaged building, Friday, July 20, 2018, in Marshalltown, Iowa. Several buildings were damaged Thursday evening by a tornado in the main business district in town including the historic courthouse. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Several tornadoes tore through Iowa late Thursday, flattening homes and businesses, overturning cars and causing several injuries.

According to the National Weather Service, there were 28 reports of tornadoes, mostly in Iowa.

The hardest hit areas were the central Iowa cities of Pella, Marshalltown and Bondurant. As of Friday morning, no deaths have been reported in Iowa due to the storms.

(MORE: Tornadoes Strike Several Iowa Towns, Leaving Significant Damage)

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In Pella, at least seven were injured when a reported tornado struck the Vermeer Corporation, a company that makes industrial and agricultural equipment, causing major damage. All have since been treated and released. According to Vermeer CEO Jason Andringa, about 400 dealers and customers were on the site as part of a 70th anniversary event when the storms struck. 

At least 10 people were injured and several homes and businesses were severely damaged in Marshalltown. The National Weather Service warned of "catastrophic damage," reporting that tops of buildings were  gone. 

"Everyone is advised to stay away from downtown Marshalltown until further notice," City Administrator Jessica Kinser said in a statement, according to CNN. "We also ask that people stay off cell lines unless necessary, to allow for emergency phone traffic."

In Bondurant, about 15 miles northeast of Des Moines, another reported tornado damaged homes and caused minor injuries. 

More severe weather is likely in the Midwest on Friday. Click through the slideshow above to view the devastation from Thursday's severe storms.

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