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Widespread tornado damage seen in Mayfield, Kentucky
A tornado ripped through Mayfield, Kentucky late Friday, leaving behind a trail of catastrophic and deadly destruction. Credit: Elora Harkness via Storyful
The governor of Kentucky said at a news briefing Saturday morning that a tornado touched down for more than 200 miles late Friday, resulting in devastation and possibly deaths across 10 counties.
"Everywhere along the line of this tornado, that touched down and stayed down for 227 miles — over 200 in Kentucky — has been severely and significantly impacted," Gov. Andy Beshear said.
"The level of devastation is unlike anything I’ve ever seen," he continued. "You see parts of industrial buildings, roofs or sidings, and trees — if trees are lucky enough to stand — huge metal poles bent in half, if not broken; buildings that are no longer there; huge trucks that have been picked up and thrown; and, sadly, far too many homes that people were likely in, entirely devastated."
"This will be, I believe, the deadliest tornado system to ever run through Kentucky," he said.
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Mayfield, Kentucky tornado: Governor fears at least 70 dead
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear says he fears 70 people in the state are dead after a tornado ripped through a candle factory in Mayfield.
Among the worst-hit places in the state was Mayfield, Kentucky, where about 110 people were inside a candle factory when the tornado hit. Dozens were still feared dead Saturday.
"Earlier this morning, at about 5 a.m., we were pretty sure that we would lose over 50 Kentuckians. I’m now certain that number is north of 70. It may, in fact, end up exceeding 100 before the day is done," Beshear said. "The damage is even worse now that we have first light."
Emergency workers search through what is left of the Mayfield Consumer Products Candle Factory after it was destroyed by a tornado in Mayfield, Kentucky, on December 11, 2021. (Photo by John Amis / AFP) Emergency workers search through what is left of the Mayfield Consumer Products Candle Factory after it was destroyed by a tornado in Mayfield, Kentucky, on December 11, 2021. (Photo by John Amis / AFP) Workers toil through the destruction at Mayfield Consumer Products Candle Factory after it was destroyed by a tornado with workers inside, in Mayfield, Kentucky, on December 11, 2021. (Photo by John Amis / AFP) A resident of the The Cardinal Inn in Bowling Green, Kentucky, looks at the damages done after a tornado touched down on December 11, 2021. (Photo by Gunnar Word / AFP) A Bowling Green, Kentucky, resident surveys the damage following a tornado that struck the area on December 11, 2021. (Photo by Gunnar Word / AFP) Bowling Green, Kentucky, residents look at the damage following a tornado that struck the area on December 11, 2021. (Photo by Gunnar Word / AFP) Bowling Green, Kentucky, residents look at the damage following a tornado that struck the area on December 11, 2021. (Photo by Gunnar Word / AFP) General view of tornado damaged structures on December 11, 2021 in Mayfield, Kentucky. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) General view of tornado damaged structures on December 11, 2021 in Mayfield, Kentucky. (Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) General view of the collapsed Mayfield Consumer Products where workers were present when the tornado came through Friday night on December 11, 2021 in Mayfield, Kentucky. (Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) Rescue squads work in the vicinity of Mayfield Consumer Products which was destroyed by a tornado with workers present Friday night on December 11, 2021 in Mayfield, Kentucky. (Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) General view of the collapsed Mayfield Consumer Products building (foreground) where workers were present when the tornado came through Friday night on December 11, 2021 in Mayfield, Kentucky. (Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) Heavy damage is seen downtown after a tornado swept through the area on December 11, 2021 in Mayfield, Kentucky. (Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) Heavy damage is seen downtown after a tornado swept through the area on December 11, 2021 in Mayfield, Kentucky. (Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) Heavy damage is seen downtown after a tornado swept through the area on December 11, 2021 in Mayfield, Kentucky. (Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) Interior view of tornado damage to Emmanuel Baptist Church on December 11, 2021 in Mayfield, Kentucky. (Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)) General view of tornado damaged businesses on December 11, 2021 in Mayfield, Kentucky. ( (Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) Local officials said national guard members and emergency workers from across the state were pouring into Mayfield to help with the search and rescue operation.
RELATED: Kentucky tornado: Gov. fears at least 70 dead after storm hits candle factory
Tornadoes and severe weather ripped through multiple states late Friday, causing catastrophic damage.
The storms also hit an Amazon facility in Edwardsville, Illinois, where at least one person died, and a nursing home in Arkansas, killing one person and trapping 20 others inside as the building collapsed.
RELATED: Deaths confirmed in collapsed Amazon warehouse in Illinois after severe weather
Three storm-related deaths were also confirmed in Tennessee, said Dean Flener, spokesman for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.
This story was reported from Detroit. The Associated Press contributed.