Storms, Tornadoes Kill 16 Across Midwest, South

Severe storms and multiple tornadoes swept across the Midwest and central United States on Friday, resulting in at least 16 fatalities—nine in Kentucky and seven in Missouri, with five deaths specifically in St. Louis. The storms caused widespread destruction, including a mass casualty event in Laurel County, Kentucky, and significant damage to more than 5,000 homes in St. Louis. Emergency crews performed building-to-building searches in St. Louis under an overnight curfew. The National Weather Service confirmed at least 26 tornadoes across Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri, Illinois, and New Jersey, with additional fatalities reported in Virginia. Power outages affected hundreds of thousands of customers in multiple states. Relief efforts are ongoing as officials warn of continued severe weather in the coming days.