Storms in several states
Numerous tornadoes are raging in the USA: At least 50 deaths in Kentucky feared
A tornado also raged in the US state of Illinois, partially collapsing the Amazon distribution center in Edwardsville
© Robert Cohen / DPA
Numerous tornadoes raged in several US states on Friday evening and caused damage. According to Governor Andy Beshear in western Kentucky alone, there could have been “at least 50 deaths”.
In the US state of Kentucky at least 50 people are believed to have been killed by a tornado. “I fear that there are more than 50 deaths in Kentucky, probably closer to 70 to 100,” said Governor Andy Beshear to journalists on Saturday. Severe storms with a whole series of tornadoes hit several states on Friday – in Illinois, the fate of around a hundred employees in an Amazon warehouse, which was partially destroyed, was initially unclear.
The storms devastated several counties in Kentucky. According to Governor Beshear, the strongest tornado brought winds of 200 miles (about 322 kilometers per hour) with it. It was the worst tornadoes in Kentucky’s history.
Tornado hit other US states as well
In the city of Mayfair, the roof of a candle factory collapsed, resulting in numerous victims. “I declared a state of emergency before midnight,” said the governor.
Other states in the southeast and in the center of the country were also hit: The rescue workers were concerned about the fate of around one hundred employees of an Amazon warehouse in the state of Illinois, who were trapped in the building that was partially destroyed by a tornado. They were on the night shift that processed Christmas orders. At the time of the accident, a tornado warning was in effect.
Amazon warehouse destroyed by tornado
Pictures on US news channels and online networks showed that a large part of the roof of the warehouse in Edwardsville had been torn off and a wall had fallen into the building. Debris could be seen everywhere.
The local civil protection agency spoke of numerous victims. At first it was unclear whether there were dead or injured. Illinois Governor JB Pritzer said he was praying for the people of Edwardsville. Amazon– Spokesman Richard Rocha said the company is looking into the situation. “The safety and well-being of our employees and partners is now our top priority.”
At least one person was killed in a nursing home in Arkansas and 20 more were initially trapped in the facility, according to local media reports. Officials later reported that the rescue workers had been able to free those trapped from the building, which had been “largely destroyed”. At least two people died in Tennessee, a civil protection representative told local media.