A series of violent storm systems tore through the Midwest and Ohio Valley on Friday night, unleashing a deadly tornado outbreak that has resulted in at least 21 confirmed fatalities. Rescue crews are working frantically across devastated neighborhoods searching for survivors.
Kentucky has borne a significant portion of the tragedy, with Governor Andy Beshear confirming at least 14 deaths across the state. He warned that this number is expected to rise as assessment and search efforts continue. “Please pray for all of our affected families,” Governor Beshear urged.
Among the hardest-hit areas in Kentucky were Somerset and London. In London, located in Laurel County, local officials reported that a tornado tragically killed nine people.
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The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office stated the twister touched down just before midnight, ripping through two neighborhoods and the area around the London Corbin Airport. This event has been described by authorities as a “mass casualty event,” with numerous individuals sustaining severe injuries in addition to the confirmed fatalities.
The deadly storms also severely impacted Missouri, where at least seven people lost their lives. St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer confirmed at least five storm-related fatalities within the city, where over 5,000 homes were affected, prompting the implementation of a city-wide curfew. The severe weather in Missouri began earlier on Friday with supercell thunderstorms that spawned the deadly tornadoes.
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Further south in Scott County, Sheriff Derick Wheetley reported at least two storm-related deaths and multiple injuries. “Today, our county was struck by a devastating tornado in the southern region, causing significant damage to several rural areas,” Sheriff Wheetley said, describing a path of destruction that left multiple homes completely lost and areas unrecognizable.
Damage in the St. Louis area could be seen in University City and Clayton, where downed trees and vehicles crushed by fallen trees were observed.
The St. Louis Zoo also sustained damage and announced it would be closed through Saturday. Fortunately, zoo officials confirmed that all animals were safe and accounted for, with no reports of significant injuries to staff, guests, or animals.
The severity of the threat in the St. Louis metro area was highlighted by the National Weather Service issuing a “Particularly Dangerous Situation” Tornado Warning that covered over a million people.
The widespread storm system also impacted southern Indiana and Illinois, with several counties placed under Tornado Warnings. While the Storm Prediction Center received over half a dozen reports of tornado touchdowns in Indiana, there were no immediate reports of fatalities in those areas.
Across the affected dozen states, the storms caused massive power outages, leaving over 800,000 customers without electricity. Officials warn that it may take several days to restore power to the hardest-hit communities as they grapple with the extensive damage left behind by this deadly tornado outbreak.
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