Deadly twisters hit US heartland - 15th December 2021

A tornado storm has caused death and destruction in the USA. Homes, factories and businesses in states across the centre and south of the country were destroyed on Friday 11th December.

President Biden spoke of unimaginable destruction. He guaranteed that the federal government would provide affected areas with whatever assistance was required.

In Kentucky, the state confirmed that over 50 people have been killed. In Illinois, an Amazon warehouse fell in and crushed six staff members.

The greatest destruction was felt in Mayfield, Kentucky, where residents like restaurant owner Mitchell Fowler are in shock.

Mitchell Fowler: "Just, this is our home town, and it's just devastating. Everybody's lost everything. It's, it's just one of those things."

Tornadoes are violent, rotating columns of air which form when warm, humid storms collide with cold, dry air. Although computer modelling can predict them, the strength of these tornadoes took everyone by surprise.

They left Mayfield resident David Norsworthy stunned.

David Norsworthy: "I didn't really think that it would hit. I thought maybe the wind would get up, but we've never had anything like this here, never. The courthouse is torn up - it, it's all torn up. All of Mayfield is, down through there, she tore up - bad."

The twister tore up Mayfield's candle factory. There are 8 known deaths, but 90 of 110 night shift workers have been rescued. This includes Fowler's brother-in-law.

Mitchell Fowler: "I had a brother in law that was trapped out in the candle factory all night. They found him this morning - he's still alive. He's do, he's at the hospital, but he's doing OK."

Over 30 tornadoes hit, and one giant twister crossed 365 kilometres of the region. Scientists have warned climate change is increasing the frequency of tornado storms.