Destructive storms, tornados in the middle west kill at least 21 people. Here is what is to know

Catastrophic systems that swept in the middle west left at least 21 deaths, including nine people who were killed after a tornado triggered a so -called authorities as a mass accident event in the southeast of Kentucky.

The storms were part of a weather system on Friday that killed seven in Missouri and also lay Tornados in WisconsinLeave several hundred thousand customers without electricity in the region of the large lakes and brought a punishing heat wave to Texas.

Kentucky struck from the devastating tornado, mass accident event,

In Kentucky, around 14 people were killed in Kentucky by storms – including a devastating tornado – and, according to governor Andy Beshear, the number of fatalities will probably increase.

“Kentucky, today we start with the difficult news that we have lost at least 14 of our people through the storms of the last night, but unfortunately this number is expected to grow if we receive further information. Please pray for all of our families affected,” said Beshear on Saturday in a post on the social media platform X.

The authorities had previously killed nine people in Laurel County after a tornado in the southeast of Kentucky.

The authorities in Kentucky said there were also serious injuries when a twister tore in Laurel County late Friday, which was crumbling on the I-75 and even turning over a car.

“The search continues in the damaged area for survivors,” said Sheriff John Root's office in a statement published on social media. Emergency shelter was set up at a local high school and donations of food and other necessities came.

“The expression of our community is heartwarming. We continue to accept donations,” said the Sheriff's office.

Spokesman Gilbert Acciardo said that the rescuers were “all night on the floor on the floor for possible survivors. We continue to do so.”

The Tornado, which tore across the largely rural area and extended to London Corbin Airport shortly before midnight.

“Tonight has changed here forever. This is a time when we come together and we pray for this community,” London Mayor Randall Weddle told WKYT-TV. “I never personally saw what I saw here tonight. There are a lot of devastation.”

Missouri Church, Zoo landmarks that were destroyed by tornados

The mayor of St. Louis, Cara Spencer, confirmed five deaths in her city and said that more than 5,000 houses were affected.

“This is really, really devastating,” said Spencer, adding that the city was in the process of declare an emergency and had been set up in the neighborhoods with the greatest damage overnight.

The number of injured people was not immediately known. The Barnes-Jewish Hospital received 20 to 30 patients from the storm with some in a serious state and expects the spokeswoman for the Laura High hospital to be released on Friday evening.

The St. Louis Children's Hospital received 15 patients, two of whom were expected to stay in the hospital until the weekend, she said

The National Weather Service Radar stated that a tornado in Clayton, Missouri, was increased in the area of ​​St. Louis, in Clayton, Missouri. The apparent Tornado landed in the Forest Park area where the home is home St. Louis Zoo And the place of the World Mass and Olympic Games from 1904 in the same year. In St. Louis, five people in Scott County were killed near Sloanville. Sloanville is north of Sikeston, the state police in Missouri has confirmed CBS News.

In the Centennial Christian Church, William Pollihan, head of the fire brigade of the St. Louis fire brigade, explained the associated press that three people should be saved according to part of the rescue Church collapsed. One of these people died.

Stacy Clark said his mother -in -law Patricia Penelton died in the church. He described her as a very active volunteer of the church that had many roles, including part of the choir.

Jeffrey Simmons Sr., who lives opposite the church, heard a warning on his cell phone and then the lights went out.

“And next you know a lot of noise, heavy wind,” he said. He and his brother went into the basement. He later realized that it was worse than he thought. “Everything was torn open.”

On Friday afternoon, the commuting trees and the officers set up people to stay at home.

John Randle, a 19-year-old University of Missouri-St. Louis student, said he and his girlfriend are in the St. Louis Art Museum during the storm And were pushed into the basement with about 150 other people.

“They could see how the doors open, tree branches fly by and people run,” he said. “Many people were caught outside.”

Christy Childs, a spokesman for Saint Louis Zoo, said in a text that the zoo on Saturday would remain closed due to the trees and other damage. The children said that all animals were safe and there were no reports of significant injuries for employees, guests or animals.

“We definitely can't say whether it was a tornado or not – it was probably,” said the meteorologist of the National Weather Service Marshall Pfahler.

A tornado, which was hit in Scott County, about 209 kilometers south of St. Louis, killed two people, injured several others and destroyed several houses, wrote Sheriff Derick Whetley on social media.

“Heavy thunderstorms that produce large to very large hails, gusts and a few tornados are expected in the southern levels,” said the Storm Prediction Center of the National Weather Service on Saturday. The risk was particularly high for North Texas.

A tornado that landed near the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Marion in Marion, Illinois, confirmed CBS News. Although the FCI Marion was not on the way of the tornado, the staff housing was hit directly and suffered considerable damage.

“As a temporary measure, the movement for certain imprisoned people was suspended and the procedures for accounting are compulsory,” said the spokesman.