Photo taken on Dec. 11, 2021 shows a heap of rubble after tornadoes in Mayfield, Kentucky, the United States. Death toll may rise to 100 after at least 30 tornadoes swept through six states overnight in the central parts of the United States, including Arkansas, Mississippi, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri. (Photo by Caromirna Sanchez/Xinhua)
At least 84 people are likely to have died after dozens of tornadoes swept through several U.S. states overnight, officials said.
Tornadoes hit and destroyed a candle factory in Mayfield, Kentucky, when there were about 110 people inside, Governor Andy Beshear told reporters on Saturday.
“I’m pretty sure that number is north of 70 … it may, in fact exceed 100 before the day is done,” Beshear said when estimating the death toll, while describing the disaster as “the most severe tornado event in Kentucky’s history.”
Photos from Mayfield show roads are lined with ruined walls, with trees toppled and electric poles cut by half with wires lying on ground.
At least six people died at an Amazon warehouse building in Illinois after it was hit by a tornado on Friday night, according to Governor J.B. Pritzker.
Arkansas, Missouri, and Tennessee have also reported tornado-related deaths, which totaled at least eight.
According to PowerOutage.US, at least 331,549 utility customers in four states affected have been left without power.
When issuing tornado warning early Friday, the National Weather Service said that at least 25 million people were under threat from massive thunderstorm systems tearing through the region.
