"Suffolk looks to be hardest hit," said Bob Spieldenner, spokesman for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, referring to the city in the southeast corner of the state.

"They are estimating somewhere around 200 injuries."

A local hospital was also hit but was still able to receive patients, he said.

Local television footage showed houses blown apart and trees cut down by the tornado.

An earlier report of one fatality turned out to be inaccurate, according to Spieldenner.

The twister had hit other south-central counties along the border of North Carolina on Monday afternoon but the extent of the damage was difficult to ascertain with the onset of nightfall, Spieldenner said.

"We are still trying to get an idea of the scope of the damage," he said.

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine had declared a state of emergency to free up state resources, he said.

"At least 23 properties were heavily damaged" in Suffolk, said Dana Woodson, spokeswoman for the city of Suffolk.

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