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DPA
Washington
A powerful storm in the United States has wreaked havoc and left thousands without power, particularly in Kentucky, where up to 100 people are believed to have been killed by multiple tornadoes overnight on Friday. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear described the “most severe tornado event in Kentucky’s history” and was visibly emotional when he spoke of the death toll across the state.
“The primary tornado was on the ground continuously for over 200 miles [320 kilometres] in our state, something we have never seen before,” Beshear said.
The governor, who declared a state of emergency in Kentucky on Saturday, wrote to US President Joe Biden requesting emergency federal aid for the state, saying “Kentucky is in need of federal assistance to respond to this event.”
Biden said he was “heartbroken by the devastation,” and added that the White House was “working with governors to ensure they have what they need as the search for survivors and damage assessments continue.”
Kentucky Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett told CNN that the event had been one of Kentucky’s “darkest days.”
Tornado damage centred on the town of Mayfield, which Dossett called “ground zero” in Kentucky. In one particularly gruesome incident, a candle factory with some 110 people reportedly inside was destroyed, Beshear said, adding that he feared dozens of lives would have been lost there alone.
Other states were also affected by the devastating storm system on Friday night, with CNN reporting tornadoes in six states.
Washington
A powerful storm in the United States has wreaked havoc and left thousands without power, particularly in Kentucky, where up to 100 people are believed to have been killed by multiple tornadoes overnight on Friday. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear described the “most severe tornado event in Kentucky’s history” and was visibly emotional when he spoke of the death toll across the state.
“The primary tornado was on the ground continuously for over 200 miles [320 kilometres] in our state, something we have never seen before,” Beshear said.
The governor, who declared a state of emergency in Kentucky on Saturday, wrote to US President Joe Biden requesting emergency federal aid for the state, saying “Kentucky is in need of federal assistance to respond to this event.”
Biden said he was “heartbroken by the devastation,” and added that the White House was “working with governors to ensure they have what they need as the search for survivors and damage assessments continue.”
Kentucky Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett told CNN that the event had been one of Kentucky’s “darkest days.”
Tornado damage centred on the town of Mayfield, which Dossett called “ground zero” in Kentucky. In one particularly gruesome incident, a candle factory with some 110 people reportedly inside was destroyed, Beshear said, adding that he feared dozens of lives would have been lost there alone.
Other states were also affected by the devastating storm system on Friday night, with CNN reporting tornadoes in six states.
