Tornadoes Rip Through 5 US States, More Than 100 Dead

Tornadoes ripped through US South and Midwest on Friday night killing more than 100 people and destroying hundreds of houses and vehicles. As many as 24 tornadoes tore across five states.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency based on major tornado damage in multiple Western Kentucky counties. He activated the National Guard and asked US President Joe Biden for an emergency declaration.

Beshear said that fatalities in the state could be nearly 100, with a majority of them working in a candle factory in Mayfield, Graves County, that had collapsed.

Graves County, bordering Tennessee, was the worst hit among the 19 countries damaged due to the storm.

“This tornado is likely to surpass the 1974 super outbreak as one of the most deadliest in Kentucky history,” said Michael Dossett, director of the state’s Division of Emergency Management.

In Illinois, a large number of people are trapped in the partial roof collapse at Amazon warehouse near St Louis where a wall about the length of a football field collapsed, along with the roof above it. Workers were busy processing orders ahead of Christmas holidays.

Illinois governor JB Pritzker tweeted: “My prayers are with the people of Edwardsville tonight, and I’ve reached out to the mayor to provide any needed state resources.”

The weather department warned that nighttime tornadoes could be particularly dangerous as many might not be hearing to the weather alerts. Thousands of houses remained without power supply following the destruction by tornadoes.

In Tennessee, the extreme weather killed at least three people while one other was killed and five were injured when a tornado hit a nursing home in Monette in northern Arkansas. Over 20 people were reportedly trapped inside the collapsed building.