A hospital spokeswoman says at least one person is dead and 16 more are in critical condition after two massive tornadoes swept through northeast Nebraska.

Jodi Richey of Faith Regional Health Services says the victims were brought into the hospital after at least one of the twisters devastated Pilger. The town of about 350 people is about 160 kilometres northwest of Omaha.

Stanton County Commissioner Jerry Weatherholt says at least one of the tornadoes destroyed more than half of Pilger.

The National Weather Service says the tornadoes were about a mile apart. Meteorologists have also been tracking a massive tornado near the town of Burwell, in central Nebraska.

Tornado tonight near Wilcox/ Hildreth. Photo credit to Chris Sheen. pic.twitter.com/CB6iU0n7f9

— Sean Schofer (@SeanSchoferTVN) June 15, 2014

– AP/NZ Herald