Tornadoes in the United States: the death toll rises to 78 confirmed deaths, including 64 in the state of Kentucky – franceinfo

The results become clearer over the days. According to the latest information transmitted Monday, December 13 by the governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshar, at least 64 people have died in this American state, the hardest hit during the passage of tornadoes in the night from Saturday to Sunday, in the south and the central United States. This new provisional report brings to at least 78 the number of deaths in the five states crossed by this exceptional meteorological phenomenon. The victims are between 5 months and 86 years old, the state governor said, saying he expects the number to increase. In addition, 14 deaths were recorded in the neighboring states of Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas.

In Kentucky, the small town of Mayfield was hit hard by the tornado. A candle factory in which 110 people were working at the time of the tragedy was completely destroyed. According to the governor, 94 of the employees “are alive and have been found”, eight people died there and eight remain missing, he said.

US President Joe Biden, who lamented “one of the worst tornado series” in the country’s history, declared a state of major disaster in Kentucky on Sunday evening.