Destruction was reported by Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas.
Tornadoes, severe storms and other severe weather swept across many states Friday night, causing numerous deaths, severe structural damage, and injuries to many people.
The affected states were Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas as well as Tennessee, Tennessee, Kentucky, and the governor stated that it was likely that more than 50 people will die.
Major incidents included the destruction of an Arkansas nursing home, where five people were injured and two were confirmed dead, as well as heavy damage to an Amazon warehouse, Edwardsville, Illinois.
Illinois
Local emergency responders called the Amazon collapsing just across St. Louis’ Mississippi River. Officials said that at least 30 people were evacuated from the scene to be reunited their families.
FOX 2 St. Louis reported that the building could have as many as 50-100 employees.
The collapse was first reported by police around 8:30 p.m. FOX 2 received the information early Saturday. Officials stated that the emergency response would continue well into Saturday morning.
According to KMOV-TV St. Louis, approximately 40 employees were taken to Pontoon Beach Police Department.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker offered support to Edwardsville residents.
Pritzker wrote that his prayers were with Edwardsville’s people tonight and that he had reached out to the mayor for any state resources.
Missouri
According to FOX 2 , at least one person died and three were injured in a tornado that struck the Missouri county of St. Charles, to the west St. Louis.
Arkansas
FOX 16 reported that emergency responders in Craighead County, Arkanas were dealing with a tragedy at Monette Manor Nursing Home, Monette.
According to the report, at least 20 people were trapped in the building when a tornado hit. According to the report, at least two people were killed and five others were injured by the tornado damage.
According to FOX 16 , the roof of the nursing home was torn off, and other buildings were also damaged.
The station reported that survivors were directed to a church nearby to reunite with their loved ones.
According to The Weather Channel, another fatality was reported at the Dollar General store in Leachville.
Kentucky
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear alerted the commonwealth’s citizens early Saturday that there could be more than 50 deaths from a tornado after a candle factory in Mayfield, with approximately 110 people inside, was destroyed.
Beshear spoke by phone to Louisville station WLKYTV. He stated that a tornado had struck the state for approximately 200 miles.
According to Louisville FOX station WDRB TV, earlier, the governor declared a State of Emergency after severe tornado damage was reported in western Kentucky.
“Last night, Western Kentucky suffered some of the most severe tornado damage that we have ever seen,” Beshear posted on Twitter at 2:20 a.m.
The Kentucky State Police tweeted, “Loss is expected” in western Kentucky.
Southwest Kentucky was hit by “twin tornadoes”, which struck at 2:20 a.m., near Bowling Green. WDRB reported.
Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) stated that “Fox & Friends Weekend” saw people who weren’t official first responders. It was a terrible thing that happened in the community, and something you wish you would never have to see.
A freight train derailment occurred in Madisonville, Kentucky shortly after midnight. It was caused by severe weather. Fox News was informed by a spokesperson for rail company CSX Corp. that no injuries were reported immediately.
Tennessee
Two people have been confirmed dead in Obion county, Tennessee after severe storms ravaged the area. FOX 17 reported. The cause of the deaths was not immediately known.
