TWISTER TERROR
‘ONE OF THE LARGEST TORNADO OUTBREAKS’: BIDEN
NEW YORK: The powerful storm system that devastated parts of the US and killed at least 100 people is likely to be “one of the largest tornado outbreaks in our history”, President Joe Biden said as the nation began to pick up the pieces.
“It’s a tragedy. And we still don’t know how many lives are lost and the full extent of the damage,” he said.
More than 70 deaths occurred in Kentucky alone, after the series of tornadoes roared across five states, leaving post-apocalyptic scenes of devastation. There are fears the toll will rise. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said the collection of tornadoes was the most destructive in the state’s history. He said about 40 workers had been rescued at a candle factory in Mayfield, a city of about 10,000, which had about 110 people inside when it was reduced to a pile of rubble. It would be a “miracle” to find anyone else alive under the debris, Mr Beshear said.
Nearly 40 tornadoes roared across the American Midwest, including one that destroyed an Amazon warehouse in Illinois, where more people were missing.
Amazon chief Jeff Bezos said he was “heartbroken” Saturday after at least six people were killed at the facility.
“The news from Edwardsville is tragic,” Bezos tweeted about the town where the facility was located. “We’re heartbroken over the loss of our teammates there, and our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones.”
Up to 100 Amazon employees working a night shift ahead of Christmas were believed to have been trapped when the warehouse collapsed, and it was not clear how many may still be trapped.
Edwardsville fire chief James Whiteford said 45 people made it out of the building safely, one had to be flown to hospital for treatment, and at least six had died. But he said the operation had turned from rescue to focus “only on recovery”, fuelling fears the toll could yet rise.
Rescuers in Missouri worked for five hours to free horses that became trapped in a collapsed barn as the vicious tornadoes tore through the area.
Photos showed firefighters and other first responders converging on the smashed structure along a highway in St Charles County, northwest of St Louis.
They climbed over the toppled wood and then reached one of the five horses inside, comforting the animal as it lay on the ground.
Crews used chainsaws and skid steers to take the barn apart. Five veterinarians were also on the scene to sedate and treat the animals.
“It was confirmed that five horses were in the barn and four of them were visible, alive and heavily trapped,” a post said.
“One by one we were able to extricate all of the horses.”
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said: “I am praying for the lives lost and communities impacted by the tornado devastation throughout the commonwealth. Thank you to the first responders and the National Guard.”