A tornado has ripped through a small town in the south-west of Kansas in the U.S., killing 9 people and injuring 63. The winds reached speeds of up to 270 kilometres per hour.

The tornado tore through Greensburg on Friday evening – smashing buildings, overturning vehicles and bringing down powerlines.

According to residents, a tornado alarm was raised just 20 minutes before the twister slammed into the town.

Shelters have been set up, but many locals decided to stay with family in other parts of the state.

Almost 70 people die each year during the tornado season.