Severe storms sweep through Kentucky, killing at least 14 people, after tornado batters Missouri

Thomson Reuters

· Posted: May 17, 2025 10:31 AM EDT | Last Updated: 8 minutes ago

At slightest 14 radical were killed overnight successful Kentucky successful the aftermath of terrible storms, and the decease toll is expected to rise, Gov. Andy Beshear said connected Saturday, aft the unsafe upwind strategy ripped crossed the authorities and neighbouring Missouri, spawning tornadoes.

Earlier, NBC News reported that astatine slightest 16 radical were killed arsenic the terrible upwind swept done parts of the 2 states.

It was not instantly wide whether the deaths announced by Beshear successful a station connected societal media level X were included successful the full cited successful the NBC report.

Beshear besides declared a authorities of exigency for his authorities successful the aftermath of the tempest system, which levelled mobile homes successful the metropolis of Morganfield, Ky., according to broadcaster WLKY successful Louisville.

Earlier, officials said a tornado ripped done the Missouri metropolis of St. Louis, damaging 5,000 properties arsenic it tore disconnected roofs. It besides knocked down powerfulness lines and swept done a large thoroughfare during rush-hour postulation connected Friday, officials said.

Five radical were killed successful St. Louis, and 2 others successful Scott County, successful southeastern Missouri, according to officials, the NBC study said.

"Our metropolis is grieving tonight," St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer, who was sworn successful a period ago, told reporters connected Friday night.

"The nonaccomplishment of beingness and the demolition is truly, genuinely horrendous."

A spokesperson for some St. Louis Children's Hospital and Barnes-Jewish Hospital told NBC quality that astatine slightest 35 radical had been admitted to the facilities, with the children's installation receiving 15 and Barnes-Jewish taking successful astatine slightest 20 — perchance 30 — radical who were injured arsenic a effect of the terrible weather.

The metropolis imposed a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. section clip successful 2 constabulary districts wherever astir of the harm took place, to forestall injuries from unsafe debris and trim the imaginable for looting.

At the clip of the deadly twister, a hazardous upwind advisory was successful effect for eastbound Missouri, including the St. Louis area, informing of terrible thunderstorms done aboriginal Friday evening, and a tornado watch was posted for areas instantly to the southeast.

The National Weather Service said thunderstorms were wide crossed portions of the Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio valleys connected Friday, on with the imaginable for dense rains and flash flooding.

About 500 archetypal responders, including 17 hunt teams, were deployed, and aboriginal indications suggested the fig of injured was comparatively tiny considering the wide damage, occurrence Chief Dennis Jenkerson said.

The National Weather Service reported astatine slightest fractional a dozen tornadoes touching down successful Missouri and neighbouring Illinois, and different terrible upwind stretching each the mode to the Atlantic coast, including another tornado in New Jersey.