At least 27 people have died after powerful storms and tornadoes swept through parts of the United States, including Missouri, Kentucky, and Virginia, leaving behind a trail of destruction and cutting power to nearly 200,000 residents.
Authorities said Kentucky was the hardest hit, with 18 people confirmed dead.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said on X that the state had declared a state of emergency in five counties. More than 100,000 people are still without power.
“We are facing a very sad and difficult time,” Beshear said. “These storms have destroyed homes and taken lives.”
In the town of London, Kentucky, many homes were destroyed. Local resident Jamie Burns, 38, said she, her husband, and son had to run to her sister’s basement to stay safe during the storm.
“Things that have been here longer than I have… just flat. Totally flattened, like not there anymore,” she told AFP.
Burns, who lives in a trailer, added, “A lot of us live in manufactured homes that aren’t safe for tornado weather.”
Drone videos from the area showed houses completely torn apart, with trees stripped of their branches and entire neighborhoods in ruins.
Eastern Kentucky, where much of the damage occurred, is one of the poorest parts of the US and has long been known for its coal mining history.
In Missouri, the State Highway Patrol said seven people died, including five in St. Louis and two in Scott County. Officials said more than 80,000 people lost electricity and three emergency shelters were set up.
St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer described the storm as one of the worst in the city’s history.
“The devastation is truly heartbreaking,” she said. “I would describe this as one of the worst storms — absolutely.”
She added that around 5,000 buildings were damaged and 38 people were injured in the city.
In one neighborhood, a church was severely damaged. Pastor Derrick Perkins of Centennial Christian Church said, “It’s horrific for a tornado to come through here and cause this much damage to the residents and also to the church. Our hearts are broken.”
Church worker Bruce Madison said despite the damage, the community is staying strong and helping one another.
In Virginia, local media reported that two people died after trees fell during the storm.
Weather experts say more dangerous storms are expected on Sunday and Monday. Some people have questioned whether the recent staff cuts at the US National Weather Service affected how warnings were shared.
According to the Washington Post, about 500 out of 4,200 workers have left the agency this year.
The US had nearly 1,800 tornadoes last year, making it the second-highest on record, based on data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Emergency services continue rescue and recovery efforts as the country braces for more bad weather.
