&nbsp;Darryl Johnson didn’t know what his sister did at the Mayfield Consumer Products factory or why she worked nights; he knew only that her husband dropped her off Friday evening and that they never heard from her again.

He stood in a gravel lot next to the giant ruin of metal and wood, which just days ago was the candle factory where his sister, Janine Johnson-Williams, had clocked in for her shift. The factory where he works, 45 miles up the road, shut down when the storms were approaching, Johnson said. He could not find anyone in Mayfield to tell him anything.

Late Sunday evening, Johnson finally got word. His sister was dead.

Sunday was a day of wrenching discoveries across the middle of the country, where an outbreak of tornadoes Friday night left a deep scar of devastation. But as work crews dug through ruins and small-town coroners counted the dead Sunday, there was at least a glimmer of hope that the death toll may not end up being as enormous as initially feared.

On Sunday evening, Troy Propes, CEO of Mayfield Consumer Products, which runs the candle factory that was demolished by the tornado and which many dread may account for the largest number of deaths in the storm, said in an interview that only eight people had been confirmed dead at the factory and another six remained missing.

Bob Ferguson, a company spokesperson, said that of the roughly 110 workers who were on the late shift at the factory Friday night, more than 90 employees had been accounted for.

Still, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear told reporters Sunday that the state had not confirmed those figures and said that search operations were still underway at the site.

“There have been, I think, multiple bodies,” Beshear said. “The wreckage is extensive.”

The death toll from the tornado swarm includes people who had been killed in Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee, but the greatest loss of life was unquestionably in Kentucky, where Beshear said that at least four counties had tolls in the double digits. A dozen people were killed in Warren County, several of them children; in Muhlenberg County, there were 11 victims, all in the tiny town of Bremen. One was 4 months old.

“I don’t think we’ll have seen damage at this scale, ever,” Beshear said.

Darryl Johnson didn’t know what his sister did at the Mayfield Consumer Products factory or why she worked nights; he knew only that her husband dropped her off Friday evening and that they never heard from her again.

Darryl Johnson didn’t know what his sister did at the Mayfield Consumer Products factory or why she worked nights; he knew only that her husband dropped her off Friday evening and that they never heard from her again. He stood in a gravel lot next to the giant ruin of metal and wood, which just days ago was the candle factory where his sister, Janine Johnson-Williams, had clocked in for her shift. The factory where he works, 45 miles up the road, shut down when the storms were approaching, Johnson said. He could not find anyone in Mayfield to tell him anything. Late Sunday evening, Johnson finally got word. His sister was dead. Sunday was a day of wrenching discoveries across the middle of the country, where an outbreak of tornadoes Friday night left a deep scar of devastation. But as work crews dug through ruins and small-town coroners counted the dead Sunday, there was at least a glimmer of hope that the death toll may not end up being as enormous as initially feared. On Sunday evening, Troy Propes, CEO of Mayfield Consumer Products, which runs the candle factory that was demolished by the tornado and which many dread may account for the largest number of deaths in the storm, said in an interview that only eight people had been confirmed dead at the factory and another six remained missing. Bob Ferguson, a company spokesperson, said that of the roughly 110 workers who were on the late shift at the factory Friday night, more than 90 employees had been accounted for. Still, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear told reporters Sunday that the state had not confirmed those figures and said that search operations were still underway at the site. “There have been, I think, multiple bodies,” Beshear said. “The wreckage is extensive.” The death toll from the tornado swarm includes people who had been killed in Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee, but the greatest loss of life was unquestionably in Kentucky, where Beshear said that at least four counties had tolls in the double digits. A dozen people were killed in Warren County, several of them children; in Muhlenberg County, there were 11 victims, all in the tiny town of Bremen. One was 4 months old. “I don’t think we’ll have seen damage at this scale, ever,” Beshear said.

In Kentucky, tallying the grim scale of destruction

As tornadoes ripped through Kentucky,&nbsp;Governor Andy Beshear said the death toll may exceed 100 with over 80 people already dead as six US&nbsp;states reported powerful tornadoes.

The tornadoes caused heavy destruction in Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois apart from Kentucky.

<img alt="Kentucky tornado " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c12137db-1b56-4392-9afc-b97c5b8125be" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/K1_4.jpg" />

Mayfield in Kentucky was hit hard as&nbsp;several areas in the US suffered&nbsp;heavy damages. Reports say Kentucky was struck by the worst tornado in over a century.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kentucky-storm-at-least-50-people-feared-dead-as-storms-strike-us-436093">Also Read:&nbsp;&nbsp;It’s very hard, really tough, says Kentucky governor</a>

A state of emergency was declared in Kentucky and national guards were brought in for rescue effort with several fatalities reported in the Amazon distribution centre in Illinois.

<img alt="Kentucky tornado" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bd296bff-ddd4-470a-ae65-232246494793" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/K2_3.jpg" />

Reports say at least 18 tornadoes hit the US south and midwest overnight resulting in large scale carnage.

Houses and buildings in Kentucky were ruined with Mayfield reporting "mass casualties". In Illinois at least 50 people were trapped after a roof collapsed at Amazon's facility.&nbsp;

<img alt="Kentucky tornado" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6ad40cdb-1457-403c-9f14-a0bcd81b55af" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/K3_0.jpg" />

The White House said President Biden has directed that federal resources be surged immediately to the locations as power outages were reported amid large scale&nbsp;rescue operations.

"The power outages are climbing and climbing significantly, and daybreak is going to bring more tough news," Kentucky Governor Beshear said, adding, "This has been one of the toughest nights in Kentucky history."

(With inputs from Agencies) 
&nbsp;

As tornadoes ripped through Kentucky, Governor Andy Beshear said the death toll may exceed 100 with over 80 people already dead as six US states reported powerful tornadoes.

As tornadoes ripped through Kentucky, Governor Andy Beshear said the death toll may exceed 100 with over 80 people already dead as six US states reported powerful tornadoes. The tornadoes caused heavy destruction in Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois apart from Kentucky. Mayfield in Kentucky was hit hard as several areas in the US suffered heavy damages. Reports say Kentucky was struck by the worst tornado in over a century. Also Read: It’s very hard, really tough, says Kentucky governor A state of emergency was declared in Kentucky and national guards were brought in for rescue effort with several fatalities reported in the Amazon distribution centre in Illinois. Reports say at least 18 tornadoes hit the US south and midwest overnight resulting in large scale carnage. Houses and buildings in Kentucky were ruined with Mayfield reporting "mass casualties". In Illinois at least 50 people were trapped after a roof collapsed at Amazon's facility. The White House said President Biden has directed that federal resources be surged immediately to the locations as power outages were reported amid large scale rescue operations. "The power outages are climbing and climbing significantly, and daybreak is going to bring more tough news," Kentucky Governor Beshear said, adding, "This has been one of the toughest nights in Kentucky history." (With inputs from Agencies)

Over 80 people dead as tornadoes rip through US; Kentucky worst-hit

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In Kentucky, tallying the grim scale of destruction

Over 80 people dead as tornadoes rip through US; Kentucky worst-hit