AT least 30 people have been killed and many injured as devastating storms spawning tornadoes tear through the mid-west.
Officials from Laurel County, Kentucky, confirmed that a tornado “pummeled” the region late on Friday night “causing mass casualties”.
At least 23 people were killed and dozens injured in the twister that hit Ohio Valley with rescue crews continuing to search through the flattened homes and businesses for survivors.
“Multiple fatalities have been confirmed as a result of a tornado that pummeled Laurel County late Friday evening,” Laurel County Fiscal Court said in a Facebook post.
“Destroyed homes and buildings are still being searched by emergency responders.”
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed on Saturday morning that the original death toll for the state that stood at nine had risen to 14 and was expected to grow.
“Kentucky, we’re starting today with the tough news that we lost at least 14 of our people to last night’s storms, but sadly, this number is expected to grow as we receive more information,” he wrote on X.
“Please pray for all of our affected families.”
By Saturday afternoon, the Laurel County death toll had increased to at least 23, the London Mayor Randall Weddle told the Courier Journal.
Beshear had declared a state of emergency ahead of the storms warning of a “dangerous weather system” with emergency crews and the Kentucky Guard on standby as they braced for devastation.
The National Weather Service had warned that residents in the Mid West should prepare to be hit with severe storms that could cause baseball-sized hail with winds of over 75mph.
The regions of Somerset and London reported the most significant damage as the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the tornado touched down just before midnight on Friday.
The twister ripped through two neighborhoods and the London Corbin Airport leaving “mass casualties in its path” with at least nine people dead and “numerous [with] severe injuries”, it reported.
London resident Leslie told local emergency officials in a video how she and her family survived the terrifying storm that tore down most of their home.
“(My daughter) got scared so we went to the hallway,” she explained.
“And we were in there about two minutes and then my husband came running in and pretty much jumped on top of her because you could feel the air sucking in, and it sounded like a train.
“And then we saw stuff falling and next thing you knew, most of the house was gone.”
It’s all hands on deck to rescue as many people as we can and save lives.
Mitch McCoySt. Louis police spokesperson
“My family’s OK, I don’t know about everybody else,” she added, noting how she saw injured neighbors as they left to find safety.
“I have never personally witnessed what I‘ve witnessed here tonight. There’s a lot of devastation,” Weddle told CNN affiliate WKYT in the aftermath of the storms.
‘TRULY DEVASTATING’
Just hours earlier in the St. Louis area of Missouri, officials reported that a tornado hit Clayton around 2:30pm local time on Friday leaving at least seven people dead and many injured.
“This is truly, truly devastating,” St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer said, confirming that there had been five fatalities in her city and over 5,000 homes damaged.
Part of the Centennial Christian Church in St Louis collapsed, trapping three people as the storm ravaged the region.
City of St. Louis Fire Department Battalion Chief William Pollihan confirmed that they were rescued but one died as a result of her injuries.
Patricia Penelton died inside the church, her son-in-law Stacy Clark confirmed to NPR, saying she was a church volunteer and took part in the choir.
Jeffrey Simmons Sr. who lives opposite the church told the news outlet how he saw a weather alert on his phone moments before the lights cut out.
“Next thing you know, a lot of noise, heavy wind,” he said, recalling how he and his brother fled to the basement for safety.
“Everything was tore up,” he said after the storm had passed.
“Our priority is life and saving lives and keeping people safe tonight,” Spencer added, with the St. Louis’ Children’s Hospital confirming the treatment of 10 patients, one of whom is in “critical condition”.
The two other confirmed Missouri deaths were reported in Scott County, about 130 miles south of St Louis, by Sheriff Derick Wheetley on social media.
“Our first responders acted swiftly, even while the tornado was still active, putting themselves in harm’s way to provide immediate assistance and care to those injured,” he said.
“The tornado moved from the eastern part of the county, leaving behind a trail of destruction, with multiple homes completely lost and areas left unrecognizable.”
The National Weather Service has confirmed it is working to confirm reports that the St Louis region was hit by two tornadoes on Friday.
Photos of the aftermath show shells of homes with windows blown out and roofs torn off as residents desperately search for their belongings.
Source: https://www.the-sun.com/news/14259396/kentucky-tornado-somerset-st-louis-missouri-dead-storm/