Mayfield (USA). In the US, the governor of the state of Kentucky said that at least 70 people are expected to die in the state and the death toll is rising after widespread damage in at least five states due to cyclones and bad weather. Governor Andy Beshir said at a news conference Saturday that the cyclone covered an area of more than 200 miles across Kentucky and that the death toll could pass 100 in 10 or more counties. “I think this is the most destructive tornado in the history of our state,” he said.
Beshir said a candle factory in Mayfield, an Amazon office in Illinois and a nursing home in Arkansas were also hit by the cyclone. Around 110 people were present at the Mayfield factory at the time of the cyclone. He said the death toll could rise and that at least 10 people were feared dead in his state’s Muhlenberg county and an unknown number of people were feared in and around the city of Bowling Green. Rescue efforts have been complicated as Mayfield’s main fire station and emergency service center were hit by the cyclone. Several buildings have been damaged in the city.
US President Joe Biden tweeted on Saturday that he had been briefed on the situation. He assured all possible help to the affected states to continue the search and damage assessment.
Police Chief Mike Filibach said Saturday morning that at least one person had died in the Amazon office. Dean Fleiner, a spokesman for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, said three hurricane-related deaths were confirmed in Tennessee. (agency)