At least 21 dead after tornadoes sweep through US Midwest

What happened?

A series of powerful tornadoes moved through southeastern Kentucky and into Missouri late on Friday, causing widespread destruction. 

Where were the worst hits?

• Kentucky: The deadliest tornado hit Laurel County, flattening homes and trapping residents under debris. 

• Missouri: In St Louis, a tornado carved a path through neighborhoods, collapsing part of a church and tossing cars. 

How bad is the damage?

• About 5,000 buildings in St Louis saw roof damage or walls blown out. 

• Power lines were knocked down, leaving nearly 100,000 homes in the dark overnight. 

What are authorities doing?

• Local fire departments and emergency crews are going door-to-door to rescue anyone trapped and check on survivors. 

• Curfews have been put in place in the hardest-hit areas to keep people safe from debris and prevent looting. 

What’s next?

Officials say they expect the number of casualties to rise as search teams reach remote or severely damaged locations. 
The same storm system also brought severe weather to Illinois and parts of the Midwest, suggesting more damage assessments are coming.