Kentucky tornado - latest: Death toll at 88 with 103 missing as Mayfield candle factory faces state probe

The death toll from the devastating tornado outbreak that ripped across six states last weekend held steady at 88 on Tuesday, including at least 13 children.

Seventy-four people have been confirmed dead in Kentucky alone after a massive twister roared across the landscape for at least 200 miles. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has said the death toll will “undoubtedly” rise as massive recovery efforts continue across the central and southern region. More than 500 National Guard members have been mobilised in the state, and 95 of them are searching for those presumed dead.

Eight deaths came from a candle factory in Mayfield, where workers claimed they were threatened with firing if they left shifts early as the twister approached. Gov Beshear on Tuesday said state officials will launch an investigation into emergency protocols at the factory.

The tornadoes were part of a powerful storm system that tore across Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee late on Friday and the early hours of Saturday.

National Weather Service maps revealed one supercell, which may have been a single tornado or a cluster.

Read More

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Who are the victims of the Kentucky tornadoes devastating the midwest?

Key Points

• What we know about the victims killed

• Kentucky candle factory workers say they were threatened with firing as storm approached

• Tornado could have covered 250 miles across four states

• What role did climate change play in the tornado outbreak

• Work release inmate flees from Kentucky hospital after surviving deadly tornado

President Biden declares major federal disaster in Kentucky

Monday 13 December 2021 10:18 , Eleanor Sly

US President Joe Biden declared a major federal disaster in tornadoes-hit Kentucky on Friday, promising additional federal aid to people in the affected areas, a statement from the White House said on Sunday.

The statement read: “Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and ordered Federal aid to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, and tornadoes beginning on December 10, 2021, and continuing.”

Affected counties such as Caldwell, Fulton, Graves, Hopkins, Marshall, Muhlenberg, Taylor, and Warren will be provided with federal aid, the White House said in the statement.

Arpan Rai reports:

President Biden declares major federal disaster in Kentucky

Watch Joe Biden’s response to the devastating tornados

Monday 13 December 2021 13:50 , Eleanor Sly

US President Joe Biden took part in a broadcast to “give remarks” on the storms.

Map shows path of destruction across six states

Monday 13 December 2021 14:23 , Megan Sheets

A map from the National Weather Service shows the purported path of a tornado that ripped across four states on Friday night.

More than 80 people have been confirmed dead after 37 tornadoes were reported in six states at the start of the weekend.

The most destructive twister, or perhaps a family of them, is believed to have traveled more than 250 miles, touching northeast Arkansas, southeast Missouri, northwest Tennessee and western Kentucky.

If confirmed, the “supercell” could become the longest single-track twister to inflict damage across four states in US history.

Voices: Kentuckians didn’t ‘reap what we sowed’

Monday 13 December 2021 14:53 , Megan Sheets

The state of Kentucky bore the brunt of Friday’s tornadoes, with at least 80 people confirmed dead statewide.

The Independent’s Skylar Baker-Jordan, who lived in Bowling Green for seven years, described looking through photos of the devastation in a Voices piece on Monday, writing: “Heartbroken doesn’t even begin to describe what I am feeling.”

But, he continued: “Not everyone sees what I see. Some people in the national media have been derisive towards my home state, blaming its people for voting for senators who oppose climate change or disaster relief for other people. A few have insinuated that Kentuckians are reaping what they sowed. That is grossly cynical and so callous it borders on ghoulish. It is also not the Bowling Green I know, nor is it the Bowling Green I have seen these past few days.

“I would invite those people to come on down to Kentucky once our people have rebuilt what we’ve lost — and we will rebuild, because that’s what Kentuckians do.”

Saying Kentucky ‘reaped what we sowed’ with the tornado is callous and ghoulish

WATCH: Kentucky governor gives update on damage

Monday 13 December 2021 15:06 , Megan Sheets

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear held a press conference on Monday morning to provide an update on damage from Friday’s tornados.

Watch below:

64 dead in Kentucky and 100 still missing

Monday 13 December 2021 15:18 , Megan Sheets

Gov Beshear announced 64 people have been confirmed dead in Kentucky and more than 100 are still missing as of Monday morning.

The deaths came from eight different counties, with victims ranging in age from five months old to 86 years old - with six under the age of 18.

The governor said it could take weeks to conclude a full assessment of damage in the state.

Biden to visit Kentucky

Monday 13 December 2021 15:43 , Megan Sheets

Gov Beshear said President Joe Biden is expected to travel to Kentucky to tour destruction from the tornadoes.

He said a date for the visit has not been set.

The governor also said the main tornado that struck his state could turn out to be a level EF5. He acknowledged that in events of that severity, “what we can do to protect ourselves is limited”.

Was the Kentucky tornado outbreak linked to climate change?

Monday 13 December 2021 16:15 , Megan Sheets

The calendar said December but the warm moist air screamed of springtime. Add an eastbound storm front guided by a La Nina weather pattern into that mismatch and it spawned tornadoes that killed dozens over five US states.

Tornadoes in December are unusual, but not unheard of. But the ferocity and path length of Friday night’s tornadoes likely put them in a category of their own, meteorologists say. One of the twisters — if it is confirmed to have been just one — likely broke a nearly 100-year-old record for how long a tornado stayed on the ground in a path of destruction, experts said.

“One word: remarkable; unbelievable would be another,” said Northern Illinois University meteorology professor Victor Gensini. “It was really a late spring type of setup in in the middle of December.”

Warm weather was a crucial ingredient in this tornado outbreak, but whether climate change is a factor is not quite as clear, meteorologists say.

Was the Kentucky tornado outbreak linked to climate change?

Associated Press

RECAP: Kentucky governor’s emotional update

Monday 13 December 2021 16:33 , Megan Sheets

Gov Beshear fought back tears as he provided an update on search efforts on Monday morning.

With 64 fatalities confirmed and 105 people still missing, the governor said of the death toll: “Undoubtedly there will be more.”

The dead ranged in age from five months old to 86 years old, with six minor victims and 18 who have yet to be identified, Gov Beshear said. Deaths were reported in eight counties, while 18 sustained damage from tornadoes.

The governor has previously said he believes the death toll statewide will top 100. On Monday he predicted it could take weeks to develop a full account of the devastation.

He tearfully told viewers: “I’m really sorry. You’re not supposed to lose people like this, and to not know and not have the information has got to make it that much harder.”

The Independent’s Megan Sheets reports:

Kentucky governor confirms 64 dead including six children after tornadoes outbreak

McConnell thanks Biden for disaster declaration

Monday 13 December 2021 16:45 , Megan Sheets

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, thanked President Joe Biden for approving the state’s major disaster declaration in the aftermath of Friday’s tornadoes.

Mr McConnell extended his appreciation in a tweet on Monday after Governor Andy Beshear said Mr Biden was planning to visit the state.

78 confirmed dead in five states as of midday Monday

Monday 13 December 2021 17:00 , Megan Sheets

As of midday Monday, the confirmed death toll from tornadoes that tore across six states stood at 78.

Below is a state-by-state breakdown:

Kentucky - 64

Illinois - 6

Tennessee - 4

Missouri - 2

Arkansas - 2

Who are the tornado victims?

Monday 13 December 2021 17:20 , Megan Sheets

Deaths have been confirmed in at least five of the six states hit by a number of tornadoes over the weekend. The death toll is feared to be more than 100 in Kentucky alone, but casualties have also been reported in Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee, with fatalities confirmed in all but one of the states.

While many of the victims remain unidentified, The Independent’s Gustaf Kilander explains what we know so far:

Who are the victims of the Kentucky tornadoes devastating the midwest?

Fewer fatalities than feared at Kentucky candle factory

Monday 13 December 2021 17:41 , Megan Sheets

Workers on the night shift at Mayfield Consumer Products were in the middle of the holiday rush, cranking out candles, when a tornado closed in on the factory and the word went out: “Duck and cover.”

Autumn Kirks pulled down her safety goggles and took shelter, tossing aside wax and fragrance buckets to make room. She glanced away from her boyfriend, Lannis Ward, and when she looked back, he was gone.

Gov Andy Beshear initially said Saturday that only 40 of the 110 people working in the factory at the time were rescued, and that “it’ll be a miracle if anybody else is found alive in it.” But on Sunday, the candle company said that while eight were confirmed dead and eight remained missing, more than 90 others had been located.

Tornado toll in dozens, yet not as high as initially feared

Associated Press

Two-month-old girl dies from tornado injuries

Monday 13 December 2021 18:00 , Megan Sheets

A two-month-old girl is believed to be the youngest victim killed by tornadoes in Kentucky.

Parents Douglas and Jackie Koon confirmed the death of their infant daughter Oaklynn in a Facebook post on Monday, three days after their home was levelled by a twister.

“At least I know who will be watching over you up there for me. My dad,” her father wrote. “God this doesn’t seem real.”

It is unclear if Oaklynn’s death was included in the updated toll of 64 announced by Governor Andy Beshear this morning. The governor had said the youngest victim killed was five months old.

The Independent’s Gustaf Kilander reports:

Two-month-old girl becomes youngest victim of Kentucky tornado, parents say

Deadly four-state tornado could be longest single-track twister in US history

Monday 13 December 2021 18:30 , Megan Sheets

The deadly tornado that wreaked havoc across four states on Friday may have been the longest single-twister tornado in US history once its path is determined by the National Weather Service.

The previous record-holding tornado struck near Ellington, Missouri on 18 March 1925 and blazed a path lasting around 218 miles, through three states and two large rivers during its three-and-a-half-hour lifespan.

Initial reports suggest that Friday night’s tornado may have broken that record. It started in northeastern Arkansas and reportedly stayed on the ground for around 223 miles before ending in Breckinridge County, Kentucky. That distance is an estimate shared by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear during a press conference on Saturday.

The Independent’s Gustaf Kilander reports:

Map shows path of possible ‘longest single-track twister’ wreaking havoc in US

Biden to visit Kentucky on Wednesday

Monday 13 December 2021 18:53 , Megan Sheets

President Joe Biden has confirmed he will visit Kentucky to survey tornado damage on Wednesday.

“With each passing day, the human impact of this devastation - just the depths of the losses - are becoming more and more apparent,” he told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday.

He said his administration is working closely with Governor Andy Beshear’s office to coordinate relief efforts, including by approving a major disaster declaration that will free up federal funding for affected areas.

“We’re gonna get this done. We’re gonna be there as long as it takes to help,” the president said. “And the combination of state, federal, and volunteer organisations do everything from helping clearing the debris but provide the necessary means to move, get schools reopened, making sure that homes are going to be rebuilt, etc. So there’s a lot, a lot, that needs to be done.”

The White House said Mr Biden will receive a storm briefing at Fort Campbell before touring Mayfield and Dawson Springs.

WATCH: Kentucky governor fights tears at press conference

Monday 13 December 2021 19:20 , Megan Sheets

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear was visibly distraught as he offered an update on search and rescue efforts on Monday.

“Like the folks in western Kentucky, I’m not doing so well today, and I’m not sure how many of us are,” he said.

Kentucky tornado relief fund tops $4m

Monday 13 December 2021 19:40 , Megan Sheets

A special state fund raising money for storm victims in Kentucky has received more than $4m from over 31,000 donations, Gov Beshear announced Monday.

The governor said the first round of spending from the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund will offer $5,000 to the family of each person who died as a result of severe weather over the weekend.

“We have to be able to grieve together, and no one is going to have to apply,” he added. “We are going to work with our vital statistics group from everyone who has been identified and we are going to reach out and contact those families directly.”

Donations can be made here.

Man sets up grill to feed tornado survivors

Monday 13 December 2021 20:00 , Megan Sheets

Kentucky resident Jim Finch drove to Mayfield, one of the hardest-hit areas by a string of deadly tornadoes striking six states over the weekend, to set up his grill and hand out food to those affected by the extreme weather.

A video of Mr Finch posted to Twitter by reporter Victor Ordoñez amassed more than 3.4 million views by Wednesday afternoon.

“I know they don’t have any electricity, so that means they don’t have any restaurants, no running water so I just figured I would do what I could do, show up with some food and some water,” Mr Finch said.

“Jim wore a smile the whole morning, we laugh when I asked if he had a restaurant,” Mr Ordoñez added. “He shook his head, ‘it just needed to be done,’ he said.”

Severe storms are the ‘new normal’, FEMA chief warns

Monday 13 December 2021 20:22 , Megan Sheets

The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency has warned that severe storms like the one that brought tornadoes to six states over the weekend will become the “new normal” due to climate change.

“The effects we are seeing of climate change are the crisis of our generation,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell told CNN.

“We’re taking a lot of efforts at FEMA to work with communities to help reduce the impacts that we’re seeing from these severe weather events and help to develop systemwide projects that can help protect communities.”

The Independent’s Rory Sullivan reports:

FEMA chief says powerful storms ‘new normal’ in era of climate change

Couple recount waiting out tornado with grandson

Monday 13 December 2021 20:45 , Megan Sheets

A couple have described their seven-year-old grandson’s terror when a tornado ripped past their home in Mayfield, Kentucky.

Karima and Robert Bright hid in a closet with their grandson when the twister struck their town on Friday night. Theirs was one of dozens of homes nearly razed to the ground.

In an interview with CBS News, Karima recalled telling her grandson: “We’re going to be okay, we’re going to make it. Just hold on, hold on, hold on.”

By the time the tornado passed, the closet was the only room in the home left standing.

Kentucky death toll climbs to 74

Monday 13 December 2021 21:10 , Megan Sheets

Kentucky’s death toll from severe storms and tornadoes over the weekend has jumped by 10 to 74, Governor Andy Beshear announced on Monday afternoon.

At least 100 people are still unaccounted for in the state.

Watch the governor’s press conference:

WATCH: Drone footage captures tornado devastation

Monday 13 December 2021 21:40 , Megan Sheets

Dramatic drone footage captured the extent of the chaos and devastation left behind by the powerful storm in Kentucky and five neighbouring states of Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee.

The video, which played out on national television and was recorded by Emmy award-winning independent photojournalist and storm chaser Brandon Clement, showed thousands of homes that were decimated over many acres across the state.

“The most intense damage I have found in [Mayfield],” he tweeted, sharing a video in which everything, from trees to shrubs, to homes, was uprooted by the storm. “The entire path in the town is less than 2 [per cent] of the total path length. Homes with only slabs remaining.”

The Independent’s Namita Singh reports:

Drone footage captures devastation left by ‘longest-ever’ tornado

Governor’s wife announces toy drive

Monday 13 December 2021 22:00 , Megan Sheets

Governor Beshear’s wife Britainy joined him at his press conference on Monday afternoon to announce the creation of the Western Kentucky Toy Drive.

“We want to help parents and guardians - despite this devastation - make the holidays special for their kids,” she said.

“I want to thank our number one partner in this effort - who I know can’t wait to visit KY soon - Santa Claus. I know our people are going to come together to make Toys for Western KY an incredible success.”

Toy donations can be made by mail or at several drop-off sites around the state. More details are available here.

Feds to investigate tornado response at Illinois Amazon warehouse

Monday 13 December 2021 22:30 , Megan Sheets

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is launching an investigation into the Amazon facility in Illinois where six workers were killed when a tornado collapsed its roof on Friday.

A spokesperson for the company responded to reports of the investigation by telling CNBC: “OSHA investigates all workplace fatalities and we are supporting them.”

Employees at the distribution centre in Edwardsville were instructed to take cover at around 8.16pm on Friday, Amazon has said.

A twister was believed to have formed in the centre’s parking lot before carving a path through it - trapping dozens of workers inside.

The family of one victim, Larry Virden, alleged that workers were denied the chance to evacuate earlier, The Independent’s Shweta Sharma reports:

Woman claims Amazon told boyfriend to stay for tornado that took his life

ICYMI: Jeff Bezos under fire for response to tornado tragedy

Monday 13 December 2021 23:00 , Megan Sheets

Jeff Bezos has been criticised on social media for continuing to cheer on his latest venture in space tourism amid the aftermath of a deadly tornado at an Amazon warehouse.

At least six people were killed at the Amazon distribution centre in Edwardsville, Illinois after a tornado led to the collapse of the building on Friday night.

There was initially no reaction to the news from Mr Bezos online, however, as the billionaire instead dedicated his social media posts to Saturday’s launch of the New Shepard rocket with six space tourists, including Laura Shepard Churchley, the daughter of first US astronaut Alan Shepard after whom the rocket is named.

“Happy crew this morning in the training centre,” said Mr Bezos in an Instagram post on Saturday morning. The crew also included former NFL star and Good Morning America host Michael Strahan, as well as four other paying customers.

“You should worry about the tornado situation more,” wrote one user in response to the post.

“Will any of your Amazon workers ever take the flight?” slammed another.

The Independent’s Namita Singh reports:

Bezos slammed for posting about space mission amid Amazon workers’ deaths

VOICES: Why climate change won’t unravel like you think it will

Monday 13 December 2021 23:30 , Megan Sheets

In the wake of Friday’s devastating storms, many have pointed the finger of blame at climate change.

Scientists say it’s too early to know if that’s actually the case, but that’s not a reason to balk at the possibility. The Independent’s Louise Boyle explains:

Why climate change won’t unravel like you think it will

ICYMI: What we know about the tornado victims

00:00 , Megan Sheets

The death toll from Friday’s storms rose to 88 on Monday afternoon as 10 new fatalities were confirmed in Kentucky.

The Independent’s Gustaf Kilander explains everything we know about the victims so far:

Who are the victims of the Kentucky tornadoes devastating the midwest?

Five victims remain unidentified

00:30 , Megan Sheets

Five of the 74 confirmed fatalities in Kentucky have yet to be identified, Gov Beshear said at a press conference on Monday afternoon.

A further 109 people remain missing across the state. The governor has said it could take weeks to finalise the death toll due to the mountain of wreckage faced by search crews.

Watch the governor’s emotional update below:

‘This isn’t a natural disaster,’ climate scientist says

01:00 , Megan Sheets

A respected climate scientist has raised alarm that this weekend’s tornadoes were the result of global warming, not a random weather event.

Michael Mann, director of the Earth System Science Center at Penn State University, issued his warning on Democracy Now!’s The War and Peace Report on Monday.

“We tend to call these things natural disasters, but this isn’t a natural disaster,” he said. “This is a disaster that was exacerbated by human-caused climate change.”

Mr Mann continued: “Make no mistake, we have been seeing an increase in these massive tornado outbreaks that can be attributed to the warming of the planet.

“But what’s going to happen here, we’re going to continue to see that climate change is going to combine with natural factors, like the La Niña event that we’re experiencing, to produce ever more extreme examples of these sorts of phenomena.”

Candle factory workers claim they were not allowed to leave shifts early

01:23 , Io Dodds

Workers at a Kentucky candle factory that was destroyed by tornados last week say they were told they would be fired if they tried to leave their shifts early, according to reports.At least four workers at the Mayfield Consumer Products factory in Mayfield, Kentucky told NBC News that bosses refused them permission to leave the building even as warning sirens began to wail. At least eight people died in the factory when it was torn apart on Friday night.

A spokesman for the Company categorically denied that employees had been threatened with firing or told not to leave.

Read the full story here.

Dawson Springs mayor says homeless residents have nowhere to shelter

01:48 , Io Dodds

The mayor of Dawson Springs, Kentucky, has said there is nowhere for residents to shelter after their homes were destroyed by the tornadoes.

Mayor Chris Smalley told CNN on Monday night: “We’re hoping FEMA [the Federal Emergency Management Agency] comes in here and tries to set up something here.

“We are a small town as well as also a small area as well. So, it’s gonna be hard to find a place to put the temporary housing and stuff.”

All candle factory workers now accounted for

02:25 , Io Dodds

All workers that were inside the Mayfield candle factory when it was hit by a tornado are now accounted for, according to reports.

A factory spokesman confirmed to the Louisville Courier Journal that all 110 workers on shift are now accounted for, with 102 surviving. He said the fact that only eight were killed was a “miracle situation”.

Kentucky tornado: Two-month-old girl becomes youngest victim of deadly storm, parents say

08:06 , Eleanor Sly

A two-month-old girl has become one of the youngest victims of the tornado in Kentucky and five surrounding states after she died from her injuries sustained during the storm.

Oaklynn Koon died on Monday, according to her parents Douglas and Jackie.

“At least I know who will be watching over you up there for me. My dad,” Douglas Koon wrote on Facebook. “God this doesn’t seem real.”

Gustaf Kilander reports:

Two-month-old girl becomes youngest victim of Kentucky tornado, parents say

Kentucky first lady breaks down during speech about tornado devastation

09:00 , Eleanor Sly

Britainy Beshear, the wife of Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, broke down in tears during a speech in the wake of the tornado damage in the state.

Water donations are sent from Louisville

10:14 , Eleanor Sly

10:45 , Eleanor Sly

A work release inmate who went missing after he was saved from a Kentucky candle factory that collapsed during the deadly tornadoes, has turned himself in to the Calloway County Jail.

Francisco Starks, 44, was treated in hospital in Mayfield having been rescued from the Mayfield Consumer Products building.

Kentucky State Police said of Starks on Facebook: “Upon his release, he walked away from the hospital.”

He has, however, now returned to the jail which is about 25 miles away from Mayfield.

Alex Jones suggests Biden caused lethal Kentucky tornado with ‘weather weapon’ in latest unhinged rant

11:30 , Eleanor Sly

Alex Jones has suggested that the devastating tornadoes that wreaked havoc across Kentucky and five other US states last week were actually caused by President Joe Biden wielding government “weather weapons”.

Mr Jones, a far right radio shock jock and prolific conspiracy conspiracist, spuriously claimed a five-year-old speech about theoretical ways to stop global warming as proof that the US government had been working on dangerous weather control technology.

“So the question is,” he asked, referring to Mr Biden’s administration, “did they use weather weapons to cause the tornadoes? That’s a legitimate question to ask.”

Io Dodds reports:

Alex Jones suggests Joe Biden caused Kentucky tornadoes with US ‘weather weapons’

Man sets up BBQ in the middle of Kentucky town devastated by tornado

12:15 , Eleanor Sly

Kentucky resident Jim Finch drove to Mayfield, one of the hardest-hit areas after a string of deadly tornadoes struck six states over the weekend, to set up his grill and hand out food to those affected by the extreme weather.

A video of Mr Finch by reporter Victor Ordoñez posted on Twitter had reach more than 3.4m views by afternoon on Wednesday.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said on Monday that at least 64 people have died in the state, but he added that “undoubtedly, there will be more”.

Gustaf Kilander reports:

Man sets up BBQ in the middle of Kentucky town devastated by tornado

Death toll from tornadoes rises to 88 people

12:29 , Louise Boyle

The powerful tornado outbreak that ripped across six states late on Friday and in the early hours of Saturday has killed at least 88 people, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday morning.

The death toll rose as massive recovery efforts were underway in regions of the central and southern US.

Dozens of tornadoes ripped across hundreds of miles from Arkansas, where a nursing home was destroyed, to Illinois, where an Amazon distribution center was heavily damaged.

Kentucky Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman speaks with NBC following tornadoes

13:00 , Eleanor Sly

Kentucky Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman told NBC: ““The only thing that rivals this level of destruction is the level of community and support that we’ve seen.”

Winter tornadoes could get stronger as world warms, study suggests

13:40 , Eleanor Sly

Winter tornadoes may become stronger and stay on the ground for longer with a wider swath of destruction as the world’s temperature increases, a new study shows.

The combination of a longer and wider track with slightly stronger winds means that some rare winter tornadoes may have nine times more the power by the end of the century, should levels of carbon dioxide levels continue to increase.

The study, which was presented at the American Geophysical Union conference on Monday, pre-dates the Mayfield, Kentucky tornado outbreak and has yet to be peer reviewed.

It looks at strength and not frequency of big tornadoes as climate change continues.

“There is a potential for events in the future that are more intense that would not have been as intense in the current climate,” said study author Jeff Trapp, head of atmospheric sciences at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

“Bearing in mind that these high end events are still going to be rare.”

Why climate change won’t unravel like you think it will

14:00 , Eleanor Sly

A devastating, disorienting scene has been left in the wake of a powerful tornado outbreak across six states on Friday night.

Dozens of people have been killed and nearly 100 more remain unaccounted for.

Entire towns were reduced to rubble and twisted wreckage, unrecognisable to those who lived there.

Louise Boyle has more:

Why climate change won’t unravel like you think it will

At least 11 children killed in Kentucky

14:20 , Megan Sheets

Of the 74 people confirmed dead in Kentucky, at least 11 are children, according to local reports.

Six children from two families were killed in Bowling Green, Warren County, per WNKY:

• Nariah Cayshell Brown, 16

• Nyles Brown, 4

• Nolynn Brown, age not specified

• Selmir Besic, age not specified

• Elma Besic, age not specified

• Samantha Besic, infant

Mayfield, Graves County

• Jha’lil Lee Dunbar, 3

• Marilyn Gingerich, 7

• Daniel Gingerich, 4

Dawson Springs, Hopkins/Caldwell counties

• Oaklynn Koon, 2 months

Factory workers say they were threatened with firing if they left as twister approached

14:40 , Megan Sheets

Workers at a Kentucky candle factory that was destroyed by tornados last week say they were told they would be fired if they tried to leave their shifts early, according to reports.

At least four workers at the Mayfield Consumer Products factory in Mayfield, Kentucky told NBC News that bosses refused them permission to leave the building even as warning sirens began to wail.

At least eight people died in the factory when it was torn apart on Friday night, part of a confirmed death toll in the state that climbed to 74 with 100 still missing as of Monday afternoon. The Independent’s Io Dodds reports:

Kentucky tornado: Candle factory workers ‘threatened with firing’ if they left early

Amazon workers condemn lack of emergency preparedness training

15:04 , Megan Sheets

Several Amazon employees have lodged complaints about the company’s lack of emergency training after six people were killed when a tornado struck a distribution centre in Edwardsville, Illinois, on Friday.

The Intercept obtained copies of the complaints posted to Amazon’s internal “Voice of Associates” message board.

The employees lamented an alleged absence of safety drills for emergencies such as tornadoes and fires, saying they had no idea what to do should such an event hit their workplace.

They also claimed that the company discouraged them from taking time off during natural disasters because doing so would slow production.

WATCH: Man plays hymn on piano in wreckage of his home

15:33 , Megan Sheets

A viral video shows a Kentucky resident playing the piano inside the wreckage of his home after it was struck by a tornado.

As his family sifted through what was left of their house in Bremen, Jordan Baize sat down to play the hymn “There’s Something About That Name” on a grand piano that survived the storm.

Mr Baize’s sister, Whitney Brown, posted a video of the uplifting sight on Facebook, where it racked up thousands of views.

“Music has always been important to me. Specifically church music, Christian music,” Mr Baize told WFIE. “My faith is a huge factor in my life but I am glad to know I guess that if it’s bringing peace and comfort and some sense of calm in an otherwise stormy time, then I am good with that.”

Facebook groups race to reunite people with belongings strewn more than 100 miles away

15:50 , Megan Sheets

An aluminium fishing boat, an energy bill and a family photo are among the dozens of items that were strewn across the Midwest and found by Facebook users after last week’s devastating tornadoes.

A Facebook group, Quad State Tornado Found Items, has been flooded with posts detailing items that people have found amid the wreckage, or are missing.

The Independent’s Gino Spocchia reports:

Boats, energy bills and family photos among items found after tornado

Kentucky governor to give update on recovery at 12pm EST

16:12 , Megan Sheets

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear will provide an update on recovery efforts at a press conference scheduled for 12pm EST on Tuesday.

Gov Beshear fought back tears during two press conferences on Monday as he predicted the state’s death toll - which currently stands at 74 - would “undoubtedly” rise.

The latest update will be livestreamed here.

Amazon driver recounts moment tornado struck Illinois facility

16:40 , Megan Sheets

An Amazon delivery driver has described the terrifying moment a tornado ripped through a distribution centre in Edwardsville, Illinois, killing six people.

Workers were beginning to take cover from the approaching storm when Craig Yost, 39, finished his route and arrived back at the facility on Friday evening.

He said he was instructed to shelter in a bathroom minutes before the twister arrived.

“The walls caved in, and I got pinned to the ground by a giant block of concrete,” Mr Yost told KMOV.

“I was pinned down on my left hip with my right hip and my right shoulder holding a chunk of concrete. On top of my left knee was a door from the bathroom stall, and my head was on that with my left arm wrapped around my head. I could just move my right hand and foot.”

Federal authorities have launched an investigation into the tragedy at Amazon’s facility, the Associated Press reports:

Amazon, OSHA promise review after tornado wrecks warehouse

Kentucky death toll holds steady at 74

17:04 , Megan Sheets

Kentucky’s death toll from last weekend’s devastating storms still stands at 74, Governor Andy Beshear said Tuesday.

The governor called the fact that the toll did not rise from Monday afternoon to Tuesday morning a “silver lining”.

He said the dead range in age from two months old to 98 years old.

More than 100 people remain unaccounted for.

Kentucky relief fund nears $10m in donations

17:21 , Megan Sheets

Gov Beshear announced that the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund has raised $9.89m from over 66,800 donations as of midday Tuesday.

He said officials are still working out plans to distribute the funding. The first round of spending will be $5,000 sums offered to families of people killed in the weekend storms.

Donations can be made here.

Map shows 5,000 points of damage in Kentucky

17:40 , Megan Sheets

Kentucky Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett offered an update on his team’s recovery efforts during Tuesday’s press conference.

He showed a map of the storm’s path across the state, which he said featured 5,000 points of damage in a span of 200 miles.

“Being on the ground will take your breath away,” Mr Dossett said.

State will investigate candle factory where eight died

17:49 , Megan Sheets

Gov Bershear confirmed that Kentucky’s Occupational Health and Safety Administration (KY OSH) will investigate the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory where eight workers were killed by a tornado.

At least four workers claimed they were told they would be fired if they tried to leave their shifts early as warning sirens began to wail.

Asked about a state investigation, Gov Beshear said: “After seeing a tornado like this, we all have to look back at protocols to see what we can do better.

“I haven’t seen any direct accounts from the candle factory, that’s obviously something people are going to look at.

“Hopefully they did everything right. If they didn’t, that will come out. Absolutely the state will look through it.”

The governor emphasised that KY OSH investigates all workplace fatalities, saying: “It shouldn’t suggest that there was any wrongdoing but it should give people confidence that we will get to the bottom of it.”

He said officials are also looking into potential health risks that could arise from chemicals at the wrecked facility.

The Independent’s Io Dodds explains factory workers’ claims:

Kentucky tornado: Candle factory workers ‘threatened with firing’ if they left early

Two relatives of the governor among the dead

18:17 , Megan Sheets

Gov Beshear told Tuesday’s press conference that two of his uncle’s cousins are among the 74 people killed by a tornado in Kentucky last weekend.

He said he is set to tour Muhlenberg County, where the cousins died, with his uncle on Wednesday.

The uncle was married to the sister of Gov Beshear’s father, former governor Steve Beshear.

RECAP: Kentucky governor’s update on tornado relief

18:40 , Megan Sheets

Here are the key points from Gov Beshear’s Tuesday press conference:

• Death toll remains at 74 - with victims ranging in age from two months old to 98 years old

• 109 people are still unaccounted for as crews continue searching wreckage

• Relief fund has raised nearly $9m

• Two of the governor’s distant relatives among the fatalities

• Mayfield candle factory where eight workers died will be investigated

The Independent’s Gustaf Kilander has a full update:

Kentucky tornado: More than 100 still missing and 74 dead, governor says

Heartbreaking last photo of little girl sheltering in bath before she was killed

19:10 , Megan Sheets

A heartbreaking photo shows a young girl sheltering in a bathtub with her sisters moments before she was killed by a tornado as devastating storms ripped across the central US last weekend.

Trey and Meghan Rackley and their three daughters sought shelter in a windowless bathroom in their southeast Missouri home on Friday evening.

To prove they were in their “safe space” with the storm approaching, the girls’ mom texted her Aunt Sandy a photo of the three in and next to the bathtub — all of them smiling, 9-year-old Annistyn holding her favourite doll.

Fifteen minutes later, Sandra Hooker said, a tornado splintered the home, carrying the family members dozens of yards through the air into a field where first responders found them in mud.

Annistyn, a third-grader who loved swimming, dancing and cheerleading, died, one of dozens killed in five states.

Family share heartbreaking last photo of little girl killed by tornado

Associated Press

UPDATE: What we know about the tornado victims

19:40 , Megan Sheets

Deaths have been confirmed in at least five of the six states hit by a number of tornadoes over the weekend. The death toll is feared to be more than 100 in Kentucky alone, but casualties have also been reported in Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee, with fatalities confirmed in all but one of the states.

At least 88 people have died in five states, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday.

While many of the victims remain unidentified, The Independent’s Gustaf Kilander explains what we know so far:

Who are the victims of the Kentucky tornadoes devastating the midwest?

Pastor and wife survive tornado in church that sustained severe damage

20:10 , Megan Sheets

A Kentucky pastor and his wife miraculously survived last weekend’s tornado despite being inside a church that sustained massive damage.

Pastor Joey Reed and his wife took shelter in a closet at the 100-year-old Mayfield First United Methodist Church when the twister tore through on Friday night.

“We heard furniture in the foyer bouncing around and then we felt fresh air under the closet doors and we realised it was open to the elements somehow,” he told WVTM.

After the storm passed, he said: “I looked up and realised I was looking at the sky.”

The Independent’s Sravasti Dasgupta reports:

Kentucky tornado: 100-year-old church in Mayfield destroyed within seconds

Warning issued about potential for more tornadoes in Mississippi Valley

20:38 , Megan Sheets

More severe storms could be headed to the same areas affected by last weekend’s tornado cluster in the coming days, the National Weather Service has warned.

The Storm Prediction Center on Tuesday issued a statement outlining a “slight risk” of severe thunderstorms over parts of the upper and middle Mississippi Valley.

“The hazards associated with these thunderstorms are frequent lightning, severe thunderstorm wind gusts, hail, and a few tornadoes,” the statement said.

Inclement weather threatens to hamper recovery efforts in Kentucky, where more than 100 people remain unaccounted for.

Barack Obama promotes fundraisers for tornado-torn communities

21:10 , Megan Sheets

Former president Barack Obama on Tuesday issued a statement about the deadly tornadoes through his foundation.

“Here at the Foundation, our hearts go out to everyone affected—both in this moment, and in the weeks and months ahead as families and communities rebuild. That’s why we hope you will consider making a donation to one of the organizations listed below,” the statement read.

It included links to Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief, United Way of Kentucky and the Global Empowerment Mission.

Phone with 27 missed calls found at candle factory wrecked by tornado

21:34 , Megan Sheets

A phone with 27 missed calls was recovered from the wreckage of the candle factory where eight people were killed when a tornado struck on Friday.

Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security, revealed the chilling detail as he described his tour of damage in Mayfield, Kentucky, to NPR.

“We arrived on the scene of what was once that factory and is now just rubble,” he said. “And the search and rescue teams were working and one officer had pulled from the rubble an individuals backpack, one shoe that could be recovered, and a cell phone.

“On that cell phone were 27 missed messages, meaning a loved one had called to see whether their family member had survived.

“We don’t know the answer to that question, but the scene is ever present in my mind.”

Amazon workers call out lack of emergency training

21:45 , Megan Sheets

Following the collapse of an Amazon warehouse that killed six workers during a tornado on Friday in Edwardsville, Illinois, an employee has called out the company for an alleged lack of emergency training.

Posting on an internal message board, the employee at a facility in neighbouring Indiana wrote: “I know it’s the weekend and Amazon was busy blasting Michael Strahan and other wealthy people into space but can we get any kind of statement about the ‘mass casualty incident’ in Illinois?

“I feel something could be said or a plan of action to review tornado and [severe] weather safety could be announced,” adding that “we had tornado touchdowns not far” from the Amazon fulfilment centre in Jacksonville, Indiana.

The complaint, one of several posted internally, was shared with The Intercept. The Independent’s Oliver O’Connell reports:

Amazon workers condemn lack of training after tornado kills six in Illinois

Why it’s so hard to know if the Kentucky tornado was caused by climate change

21:55 , Megan Sheets

Last weekend’s devastating tornado cluster marked another extreme weather event rounding out a year repeatedly described as “unprecedented” - even as meaning drains from that word amid a calendar packed with deadly wildfires, heatwaves, hurricanes, flash-flooding and prolonged drought.

It’s too soon to fully explain the role that global warming played in the tornado outbreak, scientists say. President Joe Biden has instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out an assessment.

At this early juncture, here’s what’s known: Unusually warm, spring-like weather in December factored into the tornado outbreak. Recent analysis found that while all seasons are impacted by climate change, winter is warming the fastest across much of the US, intensifying conditions in the atmosphere which can spawn such tornadoes.

The Independent’s senior climate correspondent Louise Boyle explains why it’s so hard to know if the tornadoes were caused by climate change:

Why it’s so hard to know if the Kentucky tornado was caused by climate change

Work-release inmate missing after candle factory collapse returns to jail

22:00 , Megan Sheets

Police in Kentucky have recovered Francisco Starks, an incarcerated person on a work-release programme who was present inside the Mayfield candle factory decimated by recent tornadoes, before going unaccounted for following a visit to the hospital.

“Francisco Starks has turned himself in to the Calloway County Jail,” the Kentucky State Police announced on Monday.

Starks, who was in jail on charges of burglary, car theft, and receiving stolen property, asserts he never ran away. Instead, he says he got lost in the chaos of the tornadoes, which knocked out phone lines to prison officials and caused the Mayfield Consumer Products Factory to collapse, killing at least eight people.

The Independent’s Josh Marcus reports:

Work-release inmate missing after Kentucky factory collapse in tornado back in jail

Signing off

22:10 , Megan Sheets

Thanks for reading our rolling coverage of the Kentucky tornado tragedy.

Stay with The Independent for all the latest news, commentary, and analysis on civil rights and beyond.