Severe Midwest weather leaves 9 dead in Kentucky | World News

Storm systems sweeping across the Midwest have left at least 16 dead, including nine people killed after a tornado sparked a mass casualty event in southeastern Kentucky.Kentucky authorities said there were also severe injuries when a twer tore across Laurel County late Friday.
“The search is continuing in the damaged area for survivors,” the office of Sheriff John Root said in a statement posted on social media.
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In Missouri, meanwhile, at least seven people died and authorities were searching from building to building for people who were trapped or hurt after severe storms including at least one possible tornado.
The storms were part of a severe weather system Friday that also spawned tornadoes in Wisconsin, left several hundred thousand customers without power in the Great Lakes region and brought a punishing heat wave to Texas.
In Missouri, the storms Friday afternoon tore roofs off buildings, blew out windows, ripped bricks off siding and yanked up trees and power lines. St Louis Mayor Cara Spencer confirmed five deaths in her city and said more than 5,000 homes were affected.
“This is truly, truly devastating,” Spencer said, adding that the city was in the process of declaring an emergency and an overnight curfew Friday had been put into place in the neighbourhoods with the most damage.Story continues below this ad
Debris is seen after a severe weather moved through Friday, May 16, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
The number of people injured was not immediately known. Barnes-Jewish Hospital received 20 to 30 patients from the storm with some in serious condition and most expected to be discharged Friday night, according to hospital spokesperson Laura High.
St Louis Children’s Hospital received 15 patients with two of them expected to remain in the hospital into the weekend, she said.
National Weather Service radar indicated a tornado touched down between 2:30 pm and 2:50 pm in Clayton, Missouri, in the St Louis area. The apparent tornado touched down in the area of Forest Park, home to the St Louis Zoo and the site of the 1904 World’s Fair and Olympic Games the same year.
At Centennial Chrian Church, City of St Louis Fire Department Battalion Chief William Pollihan told The Associated Press that three people had to be rescued after part of the church crumbled. One of those people died.Story continues below this ad
Stacy Clark said his mother-in-law Patricia Penelton died in the church. He described her as a very active church volunteer who had many roles, including being part of the choir.
Jeffrey Simmons Sr, who lives across from the church, heard an alert on his phone and then the lights went out.
Steven Lampink sits on a downed tree after a severe storm moved through Friday, May 16, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
“And next thing you know, a lot of noise, heavy wind,” he said. He and his brother went into the basement. Later, he realised it was worse than he thought. “Everything was tore up.” Downed trees and stop lights also caused traffic gridlock during the Friday afternoon commute and officials urged people to stay home.
The upper stories of the Harlem Taproom’s brick building were demolished when the storm came through, leaving piles of bricks around the outside. About 20 people were inside, but they huddled in the back of the building and none were hurt, the St Louis Post-Dispatch reported.Story continues below this ad
John Randle, a 19-year-old University of Missouri-St Louis student, said he and his girlfriend were at the St Louis Art Museum during the storm and were hustled into the basement with about 150 other people.
They could hear tree branches and hail hitting the building’s windows and Randle went up a flight of stairs to the main entrance for about 10 seconds, he said.
“You could see the doors flying open, tree branches flying and people running,” he said. “A lot of people were caught outside.” Chry Childs, a Saint Louis Zoo spokesperson, said in a text that the zoo would remain closed Saturday because of downed trees and other damage. Childs said all animals were safe and that there were no reports of significant injuries to staff, guests or animals.
“We can’t definitively say whether or not it was a tornado – it likely was,” National Weather Service meteorolog Marshall Pfahler said.Story continues below this ad
A large tree blocks a road after a severe storm moved through Friday, May 16, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
A tornado struck in Scott County, about 209 km south of St Louis, killing two people, injuring several others and destroying multiple homes, Sheriff Derick Wheetley wrote on social media.
“Our first responders acted swiftly, even while the tornado was still active, putting themselves in harm’s way to provide immediate assance and care to those injured,” he said.
Appalachia and Midwest face danger
Weather forecasters warned severe storms with possible tornadoes, hail and even hurricane-force winds could hobble parts of Appalachia and the Midwest on Friday.
The weather service warned of a rare tornado emergency around Marion, Illinois, on Friday evening, saying a tornado had been confirmed and was life-threatening. Reports of damage and injuries were not immediately available.Story continues below this ad
A dust storm warning was issued around the Chicago area Friday night. The weather service said a wall of dust extended along a 161-km line from southwest of Chicago to northern Indiana that severely reduced visibility.
The National Weather Service said residents in Kentucky, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, parts of Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas and Ohio should brace for intense storms that could include baseball-sized hail.
Part of Centennial Chrian Church in St. Louis, Missouri, collapsed on Friday, May 16, 2025 when severe storms, including a possible tornado, swept through the city. (AP Photo/Michael Phillis)
The weather service’s Storm Prediction Centre said “strong, potentially long-track tornadoes and very large hail” could be expected. and the threat for damaging winds in excess of 75 mph would increase into Friday evening as storms grew into larger clusters.
Ahead of Friday night’s anticipated storm, Appalachian Power, which serves 1 million customers in West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee, said it requested 1,700 additional workers from neighbouring utilities along with sending its own crews from unaffected areas to ass with service restoration.Story continues below this ad
Faith Borden, a meteorolog in the National Weather Service Nashville office, said Friday that middle Tennessee could expect “all types of severe weather. Winds up to 70 mph. We’re talking seriously large hail up to 3 inches, which for us is big hail”.
Texas hit heat wave
Texas faced searing heat. A heat advisory was issued for San Antonio and Austin, with temperatures at a blering 95 F (35 C) to 105 (40.5 C). Parts of the southern East Coast, from Virginia to Florida, battled with heat in the 90s (32-37 C).
The National Weather Service Office for Austin/San Antonio said Friday the humidity coming in over the weekend was expected to make temperatures feel hotter.
“There are concerns of heat exhaustion for people that aren’t taking proper precautions when they’re outdoors,” meteorolog Jason Runyen said, advising those affected to take breaks and stay hydrated.