Kentucky governor: Storms may have killed at least 70 people
CTV
Kentucky's governor said Saturday that a monstrous tornado likely killed dozens of people in the state and the toll was climbing after severe weather ripped through at least five states, leaving widespread devastation.
Gov. Andy Beshear said upwards of 70 may have died when a twister touched down for more than 200 miles (320 kilometres) in his state but the number of deaths could exceed 100 across 10 or more counties.
"This has been the most devastating tornado event in our state's history," Beshear said at a news conference.
The storms hit a candle factory in Kentucky, an Amazon facility in Illinois and a nursing home in Arkansas. Officials had confirmed 18 deaths, including 10 in the Kentucky's Muhlenberg County and an undetermined number in an around the city of Bowling Green. Beshear said about 110 people were in the Mayfield factory when the tornado roared through.
Debris from destroyed buildings and shredded trees covered the ground in Mayfield, a city of about 10,000 in western Kentucky. Twisted metal sheeting, downed power lines and wrecked vehicles lined the streets of what was barely recognizable as a town.
