Storms leave at least 25 dead across US, including 18 in ‘mass casualty event’ in Kentucky

Severe storms swept across the US Midwest, killing at least 25 people in Missouri and Kentucky, The Guardian reported. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear reported at least 18 deaths in his state, with nine linked to a tornado in Laurel County that caused a mass casualty event. Rescuers continue searching for survivors amid widespread devastation.

In Missouri, seven people died, including five in St. Louis where over 5,000 homes were damaged. The city declared an emergency and imposed an overnight curfew in the hardest-hit neighborhoods. Multiple patients were hospitalized, some in serious condition. A tornado touched down in St. Louis’s Clayton area, damaging landmarks like Forest Park and a church where three people needed rescue and one died.

Additional tornadoes hit Illinois and Indiana, and a heatwave affected Texas. Traffic was disrupted by downed trees and power outages. In Scott County, Missouri, two people were killed and several injured after a tornado destroyed homes. Authorities urge residents to stay safe as recovery and rescue efforts continue.