The tornado is causing great damage. People trapped in buildings that have collapsed mean that the death toll is expected to rise significantly.
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The case is being updated.
A powerful storm is moving over the central parts of the United States. It has triggered at least 19 tornadoes in five different states.
Several deaths, a high number of damaged and massive damage to infrastructure in the vulnerable areas of Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee have been confirmed.
The National Guard is involved and assists in an extensive and demanding search and rescue work.
Fears high death rates
The small town of Mayfield in Kentucky is particularly hard hit by the violent storm.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has declared a state of emergency in the state after major injuries in several places in the west of the state. The National Guard and the state police have been called in to assist in the rescue work.
The governor stated that a tornado had torn off the roof of a candle factory in Mayfield – an incident that will lead to a high number of victims, he adds.
At a press conference, he gives a very gloomy estimate of what human suffering the tornado has brought with it in the state.
– While we are sitting here today – and this is before dawn – we believe that this incident will exceed 50 ‘kentuckians’. It will probably end up with close to 70 to 100 lives lost, says Governor Andy Beshear.
– We will make it through this. We will rebuild. We are strong, resilient people, he continued.
Warehouse collapsed
The fire department in the state of Illinois warns of several injured after a tornado hit one of Amazon’s warehouses in Edwardsville. Several were trapped when the building collapsed, according to Fire department.
TV pictures show that a large number of ambulances have moved out to the warehouse building. The authorities state that several of the injured are seriously injured.
An on-site reporter from Fox News says that somewhere between 50 and 100 people were inside the building.
The warehouse collapse is described by local emergency services as an event that will lead to many victims.
More specific details about possible deaths or injuries have not been given yet.
Dramatic in a nursing home
In the small town of Monette in Arkansas, one death is reported in a nursing home.
At least 20 people were trapped inside the nursing home when the tornado hit, and the building partially collapsed, it reports local broadcaster Kait8. They must now be evacuated.
– Everyone has been evacuated from the nursing home and is being taken care of, says the city’s mayor Bob Blankenship.
– We have set up a crisis center at the local school where people receive treatment and others are transported to local hospitals, says the city mayor Bob Blankenship according to CNN.
Earlier, local authorities reported two deaths at the nursing home, but this number has now been reduced to one, according to the county governor Marvin Day.
In Mississippi, Sheriff Dale Cook has reported that the tornado also killed a woman in the city of Leachville.
Took the track off
A tornado is said to have caused a train to derail the Hopkins County line in Kentucky, photos show on social media. The photos show material damage to cars and houses. It is not clear if the train was stationary or running, or if there were people inside the train.
The incident has not been confirmed by official spokespersons yet.
A twitter user has published a picture of the destruction at the place where the train derailed.
Great range
Tornadoes have been reported in the states of Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois, according to storm warning center NOAA.
– This dynamic, unruly storm will affect more than half of the country. It is a classic collision of air masses, says CNN meteorologist Gene Norman.
In total, more than 55 million people live in the areas affected by the storm.
The severe weather conditions are caused by cold, arctic air moving south, where it meets record hot and humid air in the southern parts of the United States.
The storm is expected to develop into a strong thunderstorm throughout the day.
The area further north, in southern parts of Michigan, can have gusts of up to 27 m / s and showers with hail up to 5 cm in diameter.
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