tornadoes devastate five states, killing at least 93

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It is “one of the worst series of tornadoes” of the country’s history, lamented US President Joe Biden. He called their ravages “unimaginable tragedy”, in an addressed message on Twitter. On the night of Friday December 10 to Saturday December 11, almost at the same time, about twenty tornadoes crossed five states in the south-central United States: Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas and Missouri .

This series of tornadoes devastated almost everything in its path, leaving at least 93 dead and dozens missing. Joe Biden assured that Washington is currently working with the governors of the affected states to “the search for survivors and the assessment of damage”. Franceinfo invites you to discover the extent of the disaster in pictures.

In Kentucky, dozens dead and a devastated town

This state was swept for more than 200 miles (320 kilometers) by one of the longest tornadoes on record in the United States. At least 80 people have died in that state alone, Governor Andy Beshear said on Sunday. He said he feared that the death toll could exceed 100 deaths, or even that “number goes up considerably”.

The epicenter of the disaster is in Mayfield, a town of 10,000 people. The heart of the city looks like “to a pile of matches”, described Mayor Kathy O’Nan on CNN.

The churches, the court, the fire station … Several buildings located in the center of the city were totally or partly destroyed. Everywhere, homes have been gutted, metal twisted, vehicles overturned, trees and bricks strewn in the streets.

“It’s as if a bomb exploded in our neighborhood”, Alex Goodman, a resident of Mayfield, told AFP after a trying night in the dark and in anguish.

Amazon warehouse collapses on employees

At least six people have died under the rubble of an Amazon-owned warehouse in Edwardsville. “We are heartbroken at the loss of our colleagues there, and our hearts and prayers are with their families and loved ones“, reacted the boss of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, on Twitter.

These victims were working when much of the building’s roof was torn off, while one of the walls collapsed in the warehouse. Of the hundred or so people present, only forty-five were able to get out, according to firefighters. Rescuers continued their search on Sunday.

In Tennessee, thousands of people without electricity

Between 15 and 18 tornadoes hit central Tennessee, killing four according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, reports Fox17. Two people died in Lake County, one in Obion County and one in Shelby County.

Hundreds of homes were also affected in Cheatham County on Saturday morning. Major power cuts left more than 132,550 people statewide, most of them in Davidson County, with more than 80,000 outages.

In Arkansas, residents trapped in their retirement home

The state deplores two people dead, victims of a violent tornado that hit the towns of Monette and Leachville, where buildings collapsed during the inclement weather, according to AccuWeather.

One of the deceased was residing in a retirement home in Monette, Craighead County. At least 20 people are trapped and five people seriously injured, according to Region 8 News. The nursing assistants of the establishment protected, with their bodies, the residents from falling debris, reports the Washington post.

Deadly tornado swept through Missouri highway

The tornadoes that hit that state on Friday left at least four dead and eleven injured, according to ABC17news. Extensive damage was caused, including on the highway near Caruthersville, where two drivers were killed.

In Pemiscot County, a child died in the rubble of her home and in Saint Charles County, a woman lost her life in her home. Rescuers were able to free horses trapped in the collapsed barn where they were herded.


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