US tornadoes: At least 70 people killed in Kentucky as governor warns death toll may exceed 100

Up to 100 people may have been killed as tornadoes and storms hit several US states, toppling buildings and trapping people inside.

Kentucky's Governor Andy Beshear said it was "the deadliest tornado system to ever run through Kentucky."

He said: "Earlier this morning at about 5am we were pretty sure that we would lose over 50 Kentuckians. I am now certain that that number is north of 70, it may in fact end up exceeding 100 before the day is done."

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Earlier, Mr Beshear said four tornadoes had torn through the state, with the primary tornado travelling more than 227 miles (365km) across the state.

He said the community of Mayfield had been devastated, with a roof collapse at a candle factory resulting in "mass casualties".

Almost 60,000 people had been left without power, he added.

Mr Beshear said he had also declared a state of emergency.

"It's been one of the toughest nights in Kentucky's history," he said.

Speaking at a news conference on Saturday morning, he said: "The damage is even worse now that we have first light.

"But everywhere along the line of this tornado that touched down and stayed down for over for 227 miles has been severely and significantly impacted."

At least six people were confirmed to have died in other states, including one fatality at an Amazon warehouse after the roof collapsed.

Illinois

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Police in Edwardsville, Illinois, confirmed there had been at least one death at an Amazon warehouse where a wall about the length of a football field collapsed along with the roof above it.

About 100 emergency vehicles were sent to the warehouse, which is 25 miles east of St Louis. It was unclear how many people were hurt but two people were flown to hospital by helicopter.

Rescue crews were searching through the rubble to check if anyone was trapped inside.

Arkansas

At least one person died and several were injured when a tornado hit the Monette Manor nursing home in northern Arkansas.

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Some 20 people were trapped inside the building as it collapsed, Craighead County Judge Marvin Day told The Associated Press.

Five were left with serious injuries and a few others had minor injuries, he added. The home has 86 beds.

Mr Day also said another nursing home around 20 miles (32km) away in Truman was badly damaged, but no injuries were reported. The residents were being evacuated because the building was unsafe.

Another person was killed in Leachville after a tornado destroyed a Dollar General Store and smashed apart the city's downtown, according to Lieutenant Chuck Brown of the Mississippi COunty Sheriff's Office.

Tennessee

Two storm-related deaths were reported in Lake County, in the northwestern corner of Tennessee, according to Dean Flener, a spokesman for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.

A third death was reported in neighbouring Obion County.

Missouri

One person died and two others were injured when buildings collapsed near the towns of Defiance and New Melle in Missouri.