Gov. Beshear: More than 50 deaths in western KY 'likely'

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Gov. Beshear says we are "likely" to person much than 50 radical who person died from tornadoes successful occidental Kentucky oregon "significantly up northbound of that."

"We cognize that we are apt to person much than 50 deaths, if not importantly northbound of that, from this event," Gov. Beshear said successful an interrogation with WLKY, which was past shared to LEX 18 by the governor's office.

The storms caused harm arsenic they tracked done Tennessee and into Kentucky. Several buildings collapsed successful the southwestern Kentucky assemblage of Mayfield, said Sarah Burgess, a trooper with the Kentucky State Police successful Mayfield.

She said respective radical were trapped wrong a damaged candle mill successful Mayfield and that a displacement was ongoing erstwhile the tempest hit.

“The full gathering is fundamentally leveled,” she said.

Although nary deaths were instantly reported successful Mayfield, coroners were summoned to the community, Burgess said.

Photos posted to societal media from Mayfield showed uprooted trees, a courthouse steeple sheered disconnected and concern windows blown retired successful the storms.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear declared a authorities of exigency aboriginal Friday for what helium said was large tornado harm successful respective occidental counties. Beshear said the National Guard has been summoned to respond to the region.

The Graves County Emergency Management Office told WPSD that Mayfield High School is opening up a structure for radical affected by the storm. Resident who tin safely locomotion determination are besides being told they tin spell to Fire Station 1 connected East Broadway Street.