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LONDON, Ky. – Recovery operations are underway, and archetypal responders are continuing their heroic efforts to hunt for survivors among the countless piles of destroyed homes and businesses successful Kentucky and Missouri, days aft a disastrous tornado outbreak tore crossed those regions, leaving dozens of radical dead.
Kentucky suffered wide damage, particularly successful London and Somerset. Gov. Andy Beshear said astatine slightest 18 radical were killed successful his state, though Kentucky Rep. Hal Rogers believes that fig could beryllium person to 2 dozen.
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Debris is seen connected a damaged car aft a tornado deed successful London, Kentucky connected May 17, 2025. Severe storms that swept done the US states of Missouri, Kentucky and Virginia near much than 25 radical dead, laying discarded to section communities and cutting disconnected energy to astir 200,000, authorities said connected May 17. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said connected X astatine slightest 18 radical had died successful the storms Friday night, portion section officials successful Missouri said different 7 were dormant there. (Photo by Allison Joyce / AFP) (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
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People wide debris aft a tornado deed successful London, Kentucky connected May 17, 2025. Severe storms that swept done the US states of Missouri, Kentucky and Virginia near much than 25 radical dead, laying discarded to section communities and cutting disconnected energy to astir 200,000, authorities said connected May 17. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said connected X astatine slightest 18 radical had died successful the storms Friday night, portion section officials successful Missouri said different 7 were dormant there. (Photo by Allison Joyce / AFP) (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
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A US emblem is seen connected a destroyed car aft a tornado deed successful London, Kentucky connected May 17, 2025. Severe storms that swept done the US states of Missouri, Kentucky and Virginia near much than 25 radical dead, laying discarded to section communities and cutting disconnected energy to astir 200,000, authorities said connected May 17. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said connected X astatine slightest 18 radical had died successful the storms Friday night, portion section officials successful Missouri said different 7 were dormant there. (Photo by Allison Joyce / AFP) (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
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Debris is strewn astir and connected apical of trees aft a tornado deed successful London, Kentucky connected May 17, 2025. Severe storms that swept done the US states of Missouri, Kentucky and Virginia near much than 25 radical dead, laying discarded to section communities and cutting disconnected energy to astir 200,000, authorities said connected May 17. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said connected X astatine slightest 18 radical had died successful the storms Friday night, portion section officials successful Missouri said different 7 were dormant there. (Photo by Allison Joyce / AFP) (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
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Debris is seen astir and connected the trunk of a histrion aft a tornado deed successful London, Kentucky connected May 17, 2025. Severe storms that swept done the US states of Missouri, Kentucky and Virginia near much than 25 radical dead, laying discarded to section communities and cutting disconnected energy to astir 200,000, authorities said connected May 17. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said connected X astatine slightest 18 radical had died successful the storms Friday night, portion section officials successful Missouri said different 7 were dormant there. (Photo by Allison Joyce / AFP) (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
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Debris and damaged homes are seen aft a tornado deed successful London, Kentucky connected May 17, 2025. Severe storms that swept done the US states of Missouri, Kentucky and Virginia near much than 25 radical dead, laying discarded to section communities and cutting disconnected energy to astir 200,000, authorities said connected May 17. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said connected X astatine slightest 18 radical had died successful the storms Friday night, portion section officials successful Missouri said different 7 were dormant there. (Photo by Allison Joyce / AFP) (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
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TOPSHOT - A pistillate inspects harm from a tornado successful London, Kentucky, connected May 17, 2025. More than 20 radical person died aft terrible storms swept done the confederate US states of Missouri and Kentucky, officials and section media reports said May 17, 2025. Kentucky politician Andy Beshear said connected X that astatine slightest 14 radical had died successful Friday night's storms. At slightest 7 radical were killed successful Missouri, the Washington Post reported. (Photo by Allison Joyce / AFP) (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
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Tornado harm successful Laurel County, Kentucky. (@jsmithwx)
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Tornado-damaged Centennial Christian Church successful St. Louis, Missouri. ( )
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Aerial footage of tornado harm successful St. Louis ( )
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Tornado-damaged Centennial Christian Church successful St. Louis, Missouri. (Katie Byrne)
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Drone footage of Centennial Christian Church aft the tornado. (Katie Byrne)
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Bricks and debris successful beforehand of Centennial Christian Church. (Katie Byrne)
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Tornado harm successful Pulaski County, Kentucky connected May 17, 2025. (Somerset Pulaski County Special Response)
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Tornado harm successful Pulaski County, Kentucky connected May 17, 2025. (Somerset Pulaski County Special Response)
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Tornado harm successful London, Kentucky arsenic seen connected May 17, 2025. (London Mayor Randall Weddle)
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Tornado harm successful London, Kentucky arsenic seen connected May 17, 2025. (London Mayor Randall Weddle)
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Tornado harm successful London, Kentucky arsenic seen connected May 17, 2025. (London Mayor Randall Weddle)
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Tornado harm successful London, Kentucky arsenic seen connected May 17, 2025. (London Mayor Randall Weddle)
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Damage near aft a deadly tornado struck London, Kentucky connected May 16, 2025. (Laurel County (Ky) Fiscal Court)
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Damage near aft a deadly tornado struck London, Kentucky connected May 16, 2025. (Laurel County (Ky) Fiscal Court)
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Damage near aft a deadly tornado struck London, Kentucky connected May 16, 2025. (Laurel County (Ky) Fiscal Court)
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An ominous unreality enactment is seen successful the St. Louis metro arsenic a tornado-warned tempest moved done the metropolis May 16, 2025. (Sean Malone/KMOX News)
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An ominous unreality enactment is seen successful the St. Louis metro arsenic a tornado-warned tempest moved done the metropolis May 16, 2025. (Sean Malone/KMOX News)
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A tornado moves crossed parts of Missouri connected May 16, 2025. (Brandon Copic)
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An uprooted histrion is seen successful Clayton, Missouri, adjacent St. Louis, connected May 16, 2025. (timconttreras25/X)
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Storm harm is seen successful Clayton, Missouri, adjacent St. Louis, connected May 16, 2025. (timconttreras25/X)
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Storm harm is seen successful the Forest Park vicinity of St. Louis, Missouri, connected May 16, 2025. (Aishah French)
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Damage near aft a deadly tornado struck London, Kentucky connected May 16, 2025. (Laurel County (Ky) Fiscal Court)
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Damage near aft a deadly tornado struck London, Kentucky connected May 16, 2025. (Laurel County (Ky) Fiscal Court)
Beshear is nary alien to deadly disasters slamming the state. Back successful aboriginal April, several radical were killed and hundreds were displaced aft historical flooding. And conscionable similar helium did during that disaster, Beshear held a quality league aft touring the astir caller severe weather harm that has impacted communities.
"We’ve had much than our just stock of earthy disasters successful Kentucky successful caller years," Beshear said. "And portion we can’t cognize wherefore Kentucky keeps getting hit, and it feels pugnacious for our radical to beryllium facing this level of symptom and destruction, 1 happening we cognize present successful the commonwealth is however to travel together, unrecorded our religion and values and assistance our neighbors successful their clip of need."
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Among the dormant successful Kentucky was a longtime firefighter, according to the Laurel County Fire Department. Officials said Maj. Leslie Roger Leatherman was fatally injured during his heroic effect to the devastating tornado that slammed the community.
"This is simply a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers our archetypal responders look each day, and the unthinkable bravery they amusement successful the look of disaster," officials said.
Residents determination were being asked to enactment distant and let archetypal responders to proceed their enactment safely and effectively.
‘IT LOOKS LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF’: TORNADO LEAVES TRAIL OF DEVASTATION IN KENTUCKY
Video from London connected Friday showed extended damage, with aggregate homes destroyed and vehicles hardly recognizable arsenic debris littered the vicinity and lightning inactive flashed successful the background.
"(My daughter) got scared, truthful we went to the hallway," a pistillate named Leslie, who survived the tempest with her family, told exigency officials successful the video. "And we were successful determination astir 2 minutes and past my hubby came moving successful and beauteous overmuch jumped connected apical of her due to the fact that you could consciousness the aerial sucking in, and it sounded similar a train. And past we saw worldly falling, and adjacent happening you knew, astir of the location was gone."
Tornado harm successful London, Kentucky arsenic seen connected May 17, 2025.
(London Mayor Randall Weddle / FOX Weather)
London Mayor Randall Weddle posted respective photos from an aerial circuit of the harm fixed by Air Evac Life Team, which itself mislaid its hangar and 1 of its helicopters to the tornado.
Photos amusement wide swaths of damaged buildings crossed the London Corbin airdrome and into surrounding neighborhoods.
Tornado harm successful Pulaski County, Kentucky connected May 17, 2025.
(Somerset Pulaski County Special Response / FOX Weather)
A authorities of exigency was declared successful Somerset, successful Pulaski County, aft a tornado with a preliminary standing of EF-2 tore crossed that community.
"Damage is extended and nonaccomplishment of beingness occurred, the grade of which is not afloat reported arsenic of this (declaration)," Somerset Mayor Alan Keck said.
While 1 of the deaths successful Kentucky occurred successful Somerset, Keck said the tornado spared hundreds of homes.
Beshear said archetypal responders from Kentucky Emergency Management, the Kentucky National Guard, the Kentucky State Police, the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet person been successful the country since Saturday morning.
Deadly Missouri tornado rated EF-3
At slightest 7 radical were killed successful Missouri erstwhile the terrible upwind and tornadoes swept crossed the state, including successful the St. Louis area.
According to the National Weather Service, the tornado that slammed St. Louis has a preliminary standing of EF-3, with winds estimated to beryllium astir 140 mph. In addition, the twister was up to a mile wide astatine immoderate points erstwhile it was carving retired its way of deadly destruction.
St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer said astatine slightest 5 storm-related fatalities person been confirmed successful her city. She besides implemented a city-wide curfew due to the fact that implicit 5,000 homes were affected by the storms.
Much of the harm successful the St. Louis country seems to person happened successful the University City area.
WOMAN KILLED AFTER CHURCH ROOF COLLAPSES DURING TORNADO STRIKE IN ST. LOUIS
Storm harm is seen successful the Forest Park vicinity of St. Louis, Missouri, connected May 16, 2025.
(Aishah French / FOX Weather)
FOX News Multimedia Reporter Olivianna Calmes recovered harm successful Clayton, conscionable southbound of University City. She said she has seen respective trees damaged, and immoderate trees person fallen connected cars successful the area.
"The skies turned green," Rachel, a nonmigratory of Clayton, told Calmes. "The winds started whipping. Then, it fell silent, and past you heard what sounded similar a train, and everything started falling.
In Scott County, located astir 2 hours southbound of St. Louis, the sheriff reported astatine slightest 2 storm-related deaths and aggregate injuries.
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