21 Fatalities in Tornado Outbreak Across Central US

A powerful storm system that unleashed tornadoes swept through the central US, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 21 individuals in Missouri and southeastern Kentucky. The destructive force of the storms carved a path through multiple states, causing widespread devastation.

Kentucky reported 14 fatalities, adding to the loss of life earlier on Friday in the St. Louis area, where significant destruction occurred. Missouri accounted for seven of the reported deaths.

The storm system unleashed sizeable tornadoes in Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana.

Homes were damaged and power lines severed across the Midwest and Great Lakes due to the same system that triggered destructive storms and tornadoes just the day before.

By early Saturday, over 700,000 homes and businesses across twelve states experienced power outages, with Missouri and Kentucky suffering the most, as reported by Poweroutage.us.

This severe weather outbreak is part of a widespread pattern anticipated to continue through the early part of the next week.

While the storm system that caused fatalities in Missouri and Kentucky weakens, another severe weather outbreak is expected along the Mexico border, putting over 20 million people in the Southwest at risk.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear shared on social media that at least 14 people had died in the state and expressed concern that this number might rise. He urged prayers for the affected families.

Earlier, Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, spokesperson for the Laurel County sheriff, reported nine fatalities following a suspected tornado in southeastern Kentucky.

Additional deaths were confirmed by London Mayor Randall Weddle, according to CNN affiliate WKYT. The city of London is located approximately 75 miles south of Lexington in Laurel County, Kentucky.

“I have never seen anything like what I’ve witnessed tonight. The devastation is immense,” Weddle remarked to WKYT.

CNN reached out to emergency officials for further details regarding the fatalities.

The National Weather Service confirmed a radar-indicated “large, extremely dangerous” tornado moving eastward across lower Kentucky shortly after midnight.