The death toll from the devastating tornado outbreak that ripped across six states last weekend held steady at 88 on Tuesday, including at least 13 children.
Seventy-four people have been confirmed dead in Kentucky alone after a massive twister roared across the landscape for at least 200 miles. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has said the death toll will “undoubtedly” rise as massive recovery efforts continue across the central and southern region. More than 500 National Guard members have been mobilized in the state, and 95 of them are searching for those presumed dead.
Eight deaths came from a candle factory in Mayfield, where workers claimed they were threatened with firing if they left shifts early as the twister approached. Gov Beshear on Tuesday said state officials will launch an investigation into emergency protocols at the factory.
The tornadoes were part of a powerful storm system that tore across Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee late on Friday and the early hours of Saturday.
National Weather Service maps revealed one supercell, which may have been a single tornado or a cluster.