At least 50 dead in Kentucky, dozens injured as tornado hits central US

At least fifty people are feared dead after a tornado hit southwestern Kentucky late Friday, according to
Governor Andy Beshear. A state of emergency was declared in Kentucky.

“We know that we are likely to have
more than 50 deaths, if not significantly north of that, from this event,”
Beshear told CNN affiliate WLKY.

Also Read: Two dead in Arkansas tornado; roof collapse at Illinois Amazon

Most of the destruction happened in Graves
County, he said, including the town of Mayfield. “It hit Mayfield as hard
as just about any town … has ever been hit.” Due to the tornado power
supply has been disrupted in the central US.

Beshear said “two tractor-trailers
filled with water” have been sent to Mayfield to make sure people have
usable drinking water. Around 10,000 people live in Mayfield, according to the
US Census.

Also Read: Storm sweeps Hawaii, brings threat of ‘catastrophic’ floods

“We have one factory in Mayfield with
a roof collapse that is going to be a mass casualty event,” Beshear told
WLKY. Buildings struck include the Graves County Courthouse and adjoining jail.

Across five states, namely Arkansas,
Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee, at least 24 tornadoes were
reported. Officials in Arkansas said at least two people had died due to the
tornado.

Also Read: Washington may face ‘atmospheric rivers’ days after flooding

At least one person was killed in Monette
in northeastern Arkansas after a tornado damaged a nursing home Friday,
trapping others inside before being rescued. At least 20 were also injured at
the facility, Mayor Bob Blankenship said.

Another person was killed in nearby
Leachville, when an adult female was “in a Dollar General store when the
storm hit and they could not get out,” said Mississippi County Sheriff Dale
Cook. 

Also Read: Missouri storms: National Weather Service confirms EF-3 category tornado

The NOAA Storm Prediction Centre,
meanwhile, forecasted severe weather over the weekend as the system moves east,
stretching from northern Louisiana up to southern Ohio early Saturday. Tornado
watches in the region are expected through 6 a.m. ET.