Severe Storms, Tornadoes Kill Over 25 Across South-Central US

Devastating storms and tornadoes tore through parts of Missouri, Kentucky, and Virginia, leaving at least 27 people dead and causing widespread destruction, authorities confirmed on Saturday. Nearly 200,000 homes and businesses lost power as communities were left in ruins.

Kentucky bore the brunt of the disaster, with Governor Andy Beshear confirming at least 18 fatalities following Friday night’s violent weather. In Missouri, seven more lives were lost, according to local officials, while two people were killed in Virginia by falling trees, local media reported.

In the town of London, Kentucky, resident Jamie Burns, 38, took shelter in her sister’s basement as the storm flattened up to 200 homes in the area. "Things that have been here for over 30 years are just flat," she told AFP, her voice trembling. “It’s wild — you look at one area and it’s just smashed… totally flattened.”

Drone footage from London revealed the extent of the devastation — splintered homes, uprooted trees, and entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble. More than 100,000 Kentuckians remained without power on Saturday, and five counties had declared a state of emergency.

Eastern Kentucky, a region long marked by economic hardship and vulnerable housing, was especially hard hit. “A lot of us live in manufactured homes that aren’t safe for tornado weather,” said Burns.

Missouri also suffered severe losses, with five people killed in St. Louis and two others in Scott County, according to the State Highway Patrol. More than 80,000 residents were left without electricity, and authorities opened emergency shelters to assist the displaced.

St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer described the disaster as "one of the worst storms" in the city's history. “The devastation is truly heartbreaking,” she said, confirming that 38 people were injured and approximately 5,000 buildings damaged.

In one heavily impacted St. Louis neighborhood, CBS footage showed a church almost entirely destroyed. Emergency responders were still treating victims near the building on Saturday morning.

"It's horrific for a tornado to cause this much damage to residents — and to the church,” said Pastor Derrick Perkins of the Centennial Christian Church. Church worker Bruce Madison added, “Right now, we’re just praying for everyone still unaccounted for.”

Though a state of emergency was declared in advance, the scale of destruction and death is expected to prompt scrutiny over emergency preparedness. Critics have pointed to major staffing cuts at the National Weather Service (NWS) in recent years. According to The Washington Post, approximately 500 of the agency’s 4,200 employees have been laid off or taken early retirement in 2024.

Last year, the US experienced its second-highest number of tornadoes on record — nearly 1,800 — according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a stark reminder of the growing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events.

Further storms are forecast for Sunday night and Monday, raising fears of more devastation in already battered communities.