Over 30 tornadoes cause US horror: "Probably up to 100 dead" – a state of emergency declared in the state

At least 30 tornadoes have wreaked havoc in six US states. Kentucky Governor Beshear assumes up to “100 dead”. The news ticker.

Update from December 11th, 5:15 p.m.: After the devastating tornadoes in the USA with apparently dozen deaths, US President Joe Biden has promised the federal government to support the affected states. “Losing a loved one in such a storm is an unimaginable tragedy,” said Biden on Saturday. “We’re working with the governors to make sure they have everything they need.” Biden’s spokeswoman Jen Psaki tweeted, “We are heartbroken over the devastation.” The White House followed the effects of the devastating storm system on Saturday night in large parts of the country exactly.

After several tornadoes in the USA: drone video shows the extent of the devastation in Mayfield

The unimaginable extent of the tornado is illustrated by a video from the city of Mayfield in the US state of Kentucky. The recordings are from Whitney Westerfield, a senator from the affected state.

Kentucky seeks assistance from President Biden

Update from December 11th, 2:25 pm: “Kentucky needs federal aid to respond to this event.” With these words, Andy Beshear, Governor of Kentucky, turned to US President Joe Biden for support. On Friday (local time), according to CNN, a series of at least 30 tornadoes hit six states. At least 24 tornadoes and five affected states had previously been reported.

Power outages are widespread in the US state of Kentucky. 17 of the 120 districts were affected by the disaster. Beshear declared a state of emergency in Kentucky and activated the National Guard to assist affected communities. In his letter, the governor assumed at least 50 deaths. At a press conference, he said that the number of victims would probably be closer to 70 to 100. Kentucky Disaster Management Director Michael Dossett told CNN that it was “one of the darkest days in the state’s history.”

Tornado series in the USA: Kentucky declares a state of emergency

Update from December 11th, 12:56 p.m.: In Kentucky, the storms devastated several counties. 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.

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.

24 tornadoes cause US horror: “Probably up to 100 dead” – the search for Amazon employees continues

Update from December 11th, 11.50 a.m .: 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. At least one person was killed in a nursing home in Arkansas (first report on December 11, 9.45 a.m.), and at least two people died in Tennessee, a civil protection representative said to local media. The rescue workers were also concerned about the fate of around a hundred employees at an Amazon warehouse in the state of Illinois, who were trapped in the building that was partially destroyed by a tornado.

Tornado causes “probably up to 50 deaths” – 24 tornadoes raged in five countries

Update from December 11th, 11:31 a.m .: Numerous tornadoes raged on Friday evening (local time) in several US states and caused damage. In the western state of Kentucky alone there could have been “at least 50 deaths,” said Governor Andy Beshear in an interview with local CNN broadcaster WLKY. Mayfield was particularly affected in the state. The roof of a factory collapsed there and there could be many casualties, Beshear said. According to CNN, at least 24 tornadoes raged in five US states. A map from the transmitter showed that the affected area stretched from north to south. In addition to Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois and Arkansas were also affected, where two deaths were initially reported. The rescue work in the Amazon warehouses (update from December 11, 11:33 a.m.) continued.

US tornado causes Amazon distribution center to collapse – not all people have been found yet

Update from December 11th, 10:43 a.m.: A tornado partially collapsed the roof of a distribution center of the online retailer Amazon in the US state of Illinois (as in the first report from December 11th, 9:45 a.m.). At the time of the accident on Friday evening (local time) in Edwardsville near the city of St. Louis, an unknown number of people were in the building, the local police chief Mike Fillback told journalists. Rescue workers could have got a number of those trapped in the building. However, it is unclear how many remained inside. Further details were initially not known. An overview of the damage and possible victims in the four affected states was initially difficult because the information changed quickly.

Record tornado sweeps across four countries: Longest path of devastation in history?

First report from December 11th, 9.45 a.m .: Washington – A tornado claimed at least two lives on late Friday evening in the US state of Arkansas. According to media reports, the tornado hit the villages of Monette and Trumann and damaged a number of buildings, including two nursing homes. Two people were killed and five more injured in the Monette nursing home. Helpers rescued 20 people from the building. The two localities are in northeast Arkansas. The local high school became a reception center for evacuees.

But not only Arkansas, but three other states were affected. The Washington Post reported that there were multiple tornadoes that evening and a twister that cut a swath of devastation across four states, killing four states. The newspaper calls it the “quad-state tornado,” which is unusual at this time of year.

Tornado in the USA: Record-breaking path of devastation – four states affected

There are tons of videos and pictures of the destruction on Twitter. The Washington Post writes that the tornado may have traveled 240 miles. That corresponds to about 386 kilometers. Here the four states are circled in red on a map from Google Maps *.

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Tornado in USA destroys Amazon warehouse

Not only in the old people’s home in northern Arkansas, but also in Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee, catastrophic damage, and possibly more deaths, have been reported, the Post reports. For three hours – which is said to be unusually long – the Twister must have raged and thrown things up to 30,000 feet (10 kilometers).

Difference Between Tornado and Twister?

Communication and warnings were difficult in some areas due to the broken radio masts. Houses collapsed, buildings were destroyed. People were trapped in factories when a roof was destroyed.

As you can see in the article picture above, an Amazon warehouse completely collapsed. It’s unusual for a storm of this size to arise at this time of year. The background is probably the unusual heat for December. On a scale of 0 to 5, it is said to have had EF3 intensity, which would set a new record for the season, the Washington Post believes. We will keep you up to date in the news ticker. (ank mit dpa) * tz.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA