A historic series of tornadoes leaves dozens of deaths and devastation in the United States.

The most intense series of tornadoes on record struck six states in the early hours of Saturday. U.S and left dozens dead and an unknown number missing, as well as a trail of devastation that has swept away entire populations and caused countless damage.

The storm, which started on Friday night, hit Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee hard, and according to the National Weather Service (NWS), there were reports of 37 tornadoes in different states.

Attention was concentrated this Saturday in the town of Mayfield (Kentucky). The images that the media have shown show this town completely devastated, with the vast majority of its buildings destroyed.

Among the Mayfield search operations was that of employees of a township candle factory, which employed 110 people at the time of the tornado, and from which at least 40 have been rescued.

The search for survivors also continues at a warehouse of the e-commerce giant Amazon in Edwardsville, Illinois, where two deaths were confirmed as a result of the damage caused by the storm.

In addition, one person was killed in a Monette, Arkansas, nursing home that was hit by high winds. In that same state, in Jackson County, another deceased was known. In Tennessee, at least two deaths were reported in Lake County and one more in Obion.

INCALCULABLE DAMAGES

The scale of the tragedy, especially in Kentucky, was exposed this Saturday. The governor of the state Andy Beshear acknowledged this afternoon that the death toll can exceed one hundred and even increase considerably above that number.

Beshear described the storm as the most “devastating and deadly” in Kentucky history, which he explained was hit by four different tornadoes.

Mayfield, which is home to about 10,000 people, became the face of the devastation caused by the tornadoes, with most of its buildings washed away.

The mayor of Mayfield, Kathy Stewart O’Nan, assured the CBS chain that the water supply in that town has been compromised and that there are areas that do not have electricity.

Power outages have affected hundreds of thousands of people in various states.

On the other hand, near Hopkins County, Kentucky, a train derailed and its cars reached a home, with no deaths or injuries reported.

US President Joe Biden approved this Saturday the declaration of emergency in Kentucky to accelerate the disbursement of aid through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Biden, who initially described what happened as an “unimaginable tragedy,” promised in a speech Saturday afternoon from his city, Willmington (Delaware), that his government will do “whatever it takes” to support the states hit by the storm and “will find a way to provide it.”

The Democratic leader has spoken with the governors of the most affected states to express his condolences for the lives lost and for the damage caused in their territories, according to a statement from the White House.

AN UNPUBLISHED STORM

Friday’s storm may go down in history, as the most destructive tornado – it is being investigated whether it was a series of tornadoes – traveled “more than 250 miles through several states (including Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Kentucky)” , according to the NWS.

If confirmed as a “four-state tornado” it would mark the longest trajectory for such a phenomenon in American history.

In March 1925, a “tri-state” tornado tore through Missouri, southern Illinois, and southwestern Indiana, leaving some 695 dead and 2,027 injured after traveling 219 miles.

And as if that weren’t enough, the forecasts for the next few hours are not encouraging. The Storm Prediction Center warned of the risk of severe thunderstorms in various areas of Ohio, Tennessee and other areas of the Southeast through Sunday morning.

This storm front is expected to move towards the Atlantic coast by then.

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