ISTANBUL, May 18 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- At least 21 people were killed after powerful tornadoes tore through Missouri and Kentucky, leaving widespread damage, triggering states of emergency, and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands across the central United States, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed on Saturday that 14 people died in his state. He warned the toll could rise as rescue operations continue.
“This is another tough morning for Kentucky after a night of deadly weather,” Beshear wrote on X, adding that the state was in an active rescue phase with more than 100,000 people left without electricity.
He had declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm and said he planned to visit the city of London, Kentucky, to assess damage. Five counties have issued emergency declarations.
The National Weather Service described one tornado that struck shortly after midnight on Friday as “extremely dangerous.”
In Missouri, storms killed seven people, including five in the St. Louis area and two in south-eastern Scott County, according to NBC News.
More than 700,000 homes and businesses across 12 states lost power, with Missouri and Kentucky among the hardest-hit, CNN reported, citing data from PowerOutage.us.
Tornado sightings were also reported in Illinois and Indiana as the severe weather system swept across the region.
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