&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

Tornadoes ripped through Tennessee early Tuesday, leaving at least 25 people dead, destroying buildings and toppling power lines hours before the southern US state voted in Super Tuesday primaries.

Voting hours were extended due to the devastation the twisters wrought when they touched down shortly after midnight, rubble was strewn across the state capital Nashville.

Residents ran for their lives as their homes came down around them. Tens of thousands lost power to their homes, officials said.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-rises-to-eight-as-tornadoes-devastate-tennessee-284047">Death toll rises to eight as tornadoes devastate Tennessee</a>

"Take&nbsp;cover&nbsp;now! This&nbsp;is&nbsp;an&nbsp;extremely&nbsp;dangerous storm!" the National Weather Service tweeted as one tornado tore through an area west of Nashville.

A television broadcast showed cars piled up, hangars destroyed and what appeared to be dozens of aircraft smashed into each other at Nashville's John C. Tune Airport.

The Nashville Police Department circulated aerial photographs of many buildings missing roofs and homes destroyed standing next to houses that escaped damage.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tornadoes-thunderstorms-to-hit-us-south-and-midwest-again-weather-forecasters-211147">Tornadoes, thunderstorms to hit US&nbsp;south and midwest again</a>

"In the hours ahead, we will continue deploying search and rescue teams, opening shelters across the state, and sending emergency personnel to our communities hit hardest," Governor Bill Lee wrote on Twitter.

Lee said late Tuesday that the toll had risen to 25 during the day.

Among the victims were two people in Nashville killed after being struck by debris, police said.

Mayor John Cooper said around 150 people had been transported to medical facilities while nearly 50 buildings had collapsed in the city, the hub of the US country music scene.

US President Donald Trump said that he would visit the stricken areas Friday.

"We send our love and our prayers of the nation to every family that was affected, and we will get there and we will recover and we will rebuild and we will help them," Trump said.

The series of severe storms that passed through Tennessee caused major damage to buildings, roads, bridges, utilities and businesses, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) said.

"Tornado damage has been reported throughout West and Middle Tennessee including downtown Nashville," it added.

Overturned tractor trailers and other vehicles littered interstate highways.&nbsp;

Tornadoes ripped through Tennessee early Tuesday, leaving at least 25 people dead, destroying buildings and toppling power lines hours before the southern US state voted in Super Tuesday primaries.

Tornadoes ripped through Tennessee early Tuesday, leaving at least 25 people dead, destroying buildings and toppling power lines hours before the southern US state voted in Super Tuesday primaries. Voting hours were extended due to the devastation the twisters wrought when they touched down shortly after midnight, rubble was strewn across the state capital Nashville. Residents ran for their lives as their homes came down around them. Tens of thousands lost power to their homes, officials said. Also read: Death toll rises to eight as tornadoes devastate Tennessee "Take cover now! This is an extremely dangerous storm!" the National Weather Service tweeted as one tornado tore through an area west of Nashville. A television broadcast showed cars piled up, hangars destroyed and what appeared to be dozens of aircraft smashed into each other at Nashville's John C. Tune Airport. The Nashville Police Department circulated aerial photographs of many buildings missing roofs and homes destroyed standing next to houses that escaped damage. Also read: Tornadoes, thunderstorms to hit US south and midwest again "In the hours ahead, we will continue deploying search and rescue teams, opening shelters across the state, and sending emergency personnel to our communities hit hardest," Governor Bill Lee wrote on Twitter. Lee said late Tuesday that the toll had risen to 25 during the day. Among the victims were two people in Nashville killed after being struck by debris, police said. Mayor John Cooper said around 150 people had been transported to medical facilities while nearly 50 buildings had collapsed in the city, the hub of the US country music scene. US President Donald Trump said that he would visit the stricken areas Friday. "We send our love and our prayers of the nation to every family that was affected, and we will get there and we will recover and we will rebuild and we will help them," Trump said. The series of severe storms that passed through Tennessee caused major damage to buildings, roads, bridges, utilities and businesses, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) said. "Tornado damage has been reported throughout West and Middle Tennessee including downtown Nashville," it added. Overturned tractor trailers and other vehicles littered interstate highways.

Tornadoes tear though Tennessee, 25 dead