Severe tornadoes and storms tore through parts of the U.S. Midwest and South on Friday night, leaving at least 23 people dead and dozens more injured across multiple states, officials confirmed on Saturday.
Kentucky and Missouri bore the brunt of the deadly weather system.
In Kentucky, officials reported at least 14 fatalities, with nine of those occurring in Laurel County, particularly in the city of London, where entire neighborhoods were flattened.
The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office described the situation as a “mass casualty event”, with numerous people seriously injured and rescue teams continuing to search for survivors amid the wreckage.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency and warned that the death toll could rise as more information becomes available.
“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,” Beshear said in a social media post, urging prayers for affected families.
In Missouri, at least seven people died, including five in the St. Louis metropolitan area and two in rural southeastern Missouri’s Scott County.
The St. Louis tornado struck during peak traffic hours, damaging around 5,000 properties, downing power lines, and leaving approximately 100,000 customers without electricity.
Mayor Cara Spencer called the losses “truly, truly devastating” and imposed a curfew to protect residents and facilitate emergency operations.
The storms caused widespread destruction, with roofs torn off homes, vehicles overturned, and debris scattered across affected communities. Power outages extended from Missouri through parts of the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, affecting nearly half a million customers.
Emergency responders are actively conducting search and rescue operations, urging residents to avoid damaged areas to allow crews to work safely. Shelters have been established for displaced residents, and donations of food and supplies are arriving to support relief efforts.
The violent weather system also spawned tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in neighboring states, including Illinois, Virginia, Wisconsin, Ohio, and New Jersey, causing additional damage and fatalities.
In Virginia, two people died due to falling trees amid the storms.
The National Weather Service has warned of continued severe weather, including the possibility of more tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds across parts of North Texas and the southern plains on Saturday.
