A series of violent storms and tornadoes tore through parts of the US Midwest and South, killing at least 25 people and causing widespread destruction. The worst-hit areas include rural Kentucky and Missouri, with severe weather also impacting states as far as Wisconsin, Texas, and Illinois.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed that 18 people had died in his state alone, with 17 fatalities reported from Laurel County and another from Pulaski County. Among the victims was a 39-year-old veteran firefighter from the Laurel County Fire Department, who was fatally injured while responding to emergency calls during the storm.
The tornado struck just before midnight, ripping across rural communities and even reaching the London Corbin Airport, flipping vehicles and reducing homes to rubble. Survivors described the harrowing experience. “You could literally hear just things ripping in the distance, glass shattering everywhere, just roaring like a freight train,” said Kayla Patter, who survived the storm by taking shelter in a basement tub with her husband and five children.
Patter’s home was miraculously spared, but her neighbors’ houses were destroyed and strewn with debris, including metal sheets, timber, and personal belongings. Emergency teams worked through the night, searching for survivors and setting up a temporary shelter at a local high school.
In Missouri, at least seven people were killed due to storm-related incidents. The tornado struck St. Louis, touching down near the historic Forest Park area — home to the St. Louis Zoo and former site of the 1904 World’s Fair and Olympic Games.
Meteorologists confirmed the storms were part of a larger system of supercells, which also led to tornadoes in Wisconsin, a heat wave in Texas, and even a dust storm in Chicago. The National Weather Service has warned of further severe weather in Texas and Oklahoma, where supercells could produce hailstones as large as 3.5 inches (8.9 cm).
“Be prepared to take action if watches and warnings are issued for your area,” the weather service cautioned residents across the storm-prone regions.
As communities assess the damage and mourn the losses, rescue and relief operations remain in full force. Local and federal authorities are coordinating to provide aid to the affected areas, as families begin to recover from one of the most devastating weather events in recent months.
Sources By Agencies
