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.
This pretty much sums it up in: 19. #Mayfield #MayfieldTornado #KyWx #WX pic.twitter.com/IcPL4XGtPS
– WxChasing- Brandon Clement (@bclemms) December 11, 2021
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.
#Mayfield #KY #tornado devastation @Newsy pic.twitter.com/NI9EZhgqiw
– Scott Withers (@SWithersNewsy) December 12, 2021
“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.
Scenes from #Edwardsville, IL – about 15 miles east of #StLouis – where an @amazon warehouse partially collapsed after severe weather last night. No official word just yet on if the storms produced a tornado that struck the facility, now officially leaving at least two dead. pic.twitter.com/PTFYE0tWZk
– Brian Munoz (@brianmmunoz) December 11, 2021
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.
#USA : Several people were trapped after the partial collapse of the warehouse of#Amazon at #Edwardsville, in L’#Illinois, during a storm. pic.twitter.com/48PGFczt1g
– kissa (@miniakissa) December 11, 2021
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.
TORNADO OUTBREAK IN TENNESSEE: Emergency Management officials say 15-18 tornadoes touched down in the midstate, one pinning an elderly woman under her mobile home as she tried to escape. https://t.co/bLvvIum1zy
– FoxNashville (@FOXNashville) December 11, 2021
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.
#nashville #tornado #Tennessee these photos do not adequately show the full extent of the damages. Live power lines down, nearly all the tees along the lake edge uprooted / down pic.twitter.com/Zt8EU8BrBQ
– angharad irving (@ pilipala1973) December 11, 2021
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.
MONSTER wedge #tornado just after passing through Monette, AR earlier this evening. Reports of casualties. Long-track tornado continues near Hickman, TN @accuweather pic.twitter.com/owIWUmOucu
– Reed Timmer (@ReedTimmerAccu) December 11, 2021
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.
CONFIRMED: Monette Manor a nursing home in Monette, Arkansas took a direct hit by a very large tornado & collapsed with patients inside. Docs / RNs are pleading for help. pic.twitter.com/g3HDyYy7bX
– Ellen Bacca (@ellenbacca) December 11, 2021
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.
I-55 near Caruthersville, #Missouri with multiple semis thrown across the interstate after a wedge #tornado moved through this spot. @ Raw_News1st pic.twitter.com/UjMfeTY86Z
– RawNews1st (@ Raw_News1st) December 11, 2021
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.
Missouri rescuers free horses trapped after tornado flattened barn https://t.co/U1dWxg5ujp pic.twitter.com/217VR8YPzH
– New York Post (@nypost) December 12, 2021