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Oklahoma City-AP -- A large tornado has apparently touched down in southern Oklahoma City and its southeastern suburbs.

News footage showed heavy damage to Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City and the General Motors plant in south Oklahoma County.

There were reports of injuries at the G-M plant, but that could not be immediately confirmed.

The storm paralleled Interstate 240, destroying metal industrial buildings, a mobile home sales lots, a bank, a fast-food restaurant and tossed 18-wheelers.

There also were reports of leveled businesses near I-240, a major thoroughfare in central Oklahoma. Officials have shut down eastbound I-240.

Structures were stripped of roofs, automobiles and mobile homes were strewn across the landscape.

Power lines and large trees also were toppled and other debris could be seen.

KOCO-TV:

Tornado Took Same Path As May 3 Storms

POSTED: 5:26 p.m. CDT May 8, 2003
UPDATED: 6:25 p.m. CDT May 8, 2003
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A tornado moving northeast struck Oklahoma City Thursday, touching down in Choctaw and eastern Oklahoma County.

The tornado is carrying debris and moving at about 35 miles per hour.

The same tornado touched down in northern Cleveland County and Oklahoma County causing major damage.

Damage is being reported near Interstate 240 and Sooner Road in southern Oklahoma City. There are reports of damage near Del City, Midwest City and Tinker Air Force Base.

The General Motors plant along I-240 has sustained extreme roof and window damage. Injuries have been reported at the plant.

I-240 eastbound has been shutdown. Several businesses have sustained major damage. The tornado continues moving northeast at 30 miles per hour. People in the storm's path should take immediate shelter.

Weather Channel's severe storm expert says this will be a long night. Been quiet in Ohio so far this spring. They are forecasting boomers for tomorrow, so we'll see if any of that stuff makes its way here. Been since 1985 that we've had an outbreak in Ohio worth remembering, and before that, 1974.