Severe weather leaves nine dead in Kentucky

Storm systems sweeping across the US Midwest have left at least 16 people dead, including nine people killed after a tornado sparked a mass casualty event in south-eastern Kentucky.

Kentucky authorities said there were also severe injuries when a twister tore across Laurel County late on Friday.

“The search is continuing in the damaged area for survivors,” the office of Sheriff John Root said.

In Missouri, at least seven people died and authorities were searching from building to building for people who were trapped or hurt after severe storms, including at least one possible tornado.

The storms were part of a severe weather system that also spawned tornadoes in Wisconsin, left several hundred thousand customers without power in the Great Lakes region and brought a punishing heat wave to Texas.

In Missouri, the storms on Friday afternoon tore roofs off buildings, blew out windows, ripped bricks off siding and yanked up trees and power lines.

St Louis mayor Cara Spencer confirmed five deaths in her city and said more than 5,000 homes were affected.

“This is truly, truly devastating,” Ms Spencer said, adding that the city was in the process of declaring an emergency and an overnight curfew on Friday had been put into place in the areas with the most damage.

The number of people injured was not immediately known. Barnes-Jewish Hospital received 20 to 30 patients from the storm with some in serious condition and most expected to be discharged by Friday night, according to hospital spokesperson Laura High.

St Louis Children’s Hospital received 15 patients with two of them expected to remain in the hospital into the weekend, she said.

National Weather Service radar indicated a tornado touched down between 2.30pm and 2.50pm local time in Clayton, Missouri, in the St Louis area.

The apparent tornado touched down in the area of Forest Park, home to the St Louis Zoo and the site of the 1904 World’s Fair and Olympic Games the same year.

At Centennial Christian Church, City of St Louis Fire Department Battalion Chief William Pollihan told The Associated Press that three people had to be rescued after part of the church crumbled. One of those people died.

Stacy Clark said his mother-in-law Patricia Penelton died in the church. He described her as a very active church volunteer who had many roles, including being part of the choir.

Downed trees and stop lights also caused traffic gridlock during the Friday afternoon commute and officials urged people to stay home.

The upper stories of the Harlem Taproom’s brick building were demolished when the storm came through, leaving piles of bricks around the outside. About 20 people were inside, but they huddled in the back of the building and none were hurt, the St Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Christy Childs, a Saint Louis Zoo spokesperson, said in a text that the zoo would remain closed Saturday because of downed trees and other damage. All animals were safe and there were no reports of significant injuries to staff, guests or animals.

“We can’t definitively say whether or not it was a tornado – it likely was,” US National Weather Service meteorologist Marshall Pfahler said.

A tornado struck in Scott County, about 130 miles south of St Louis, killing two people, injuring several others and destroying multiple homes, Sheriff Derick Wheetley wrote on social media.

“Our first responders acted swiftly, even while the tornado was still active, putting themselves in harm’s way to provide immediate assistance and care to those injured,” he said.