US Tornado: Outbreak Likely ‘One Of The Largest’ In History, Says Biden As Storms Kill Over 80 Across Six States
At least 13 people were killed in other storm-hit states, including the Amazon warehouse in Illinois, bringing the total toll to 83
New Delhi: With powerful tornadoes ripping across five US states, more than 80 people were left dead on Saturday which President Joe Biden termed as "one of the largest" storm outbreaks in history. The powerful storm system that devastated parts of the United States overnight is likely to be "one of the largest tornado outbreaks in our history," President Joe Biden said in televised comments on Saturday, according to a report by the Associated Press.
"It's a tragedy. And we still don't know how many lives are lost and the full extent of the damage," he added. "Whatever is needed, I'm going to ask for," Biden vowed at his press conference.
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On asked whether climate change was the reason behind the storms, he said he "can't say" and that he would ask the government's Environmental Protection Agency to look in to the question. "But the fact is that we all know everything is more intense when the climate is warming, everything," Biden continued. "And obviously it has some impact here but I can't give you a quantitative read on that."
He promised to visit the damaged region, but said he wanted to be sure he did not get "in the way of rescue and recovery."
"But I ... will plan on going," he said.
What’s The Impact Of Tornadoes?
The total number of tornadoes across the region is estimated to be 30, according to reports. At least 13 people were killed in other storm-hit states, including the Amazon warehouse in Illinois, bringing the total toll to 83.
The maximum devastation has been reported from Kentucky after the series of tornadoes roared across five states, leaving post-apocalyptic scenes of devastation.
More than 70 people are believed to have been killed in Kentucky alone, many of them workers at a candle factory. Around six people have succumbed in an Amazon warehouse in Illinois where they were on the night shift processing orders ahead of Christmas, according to AP.
In Arkansas, at least one person died when a tornado "pretty much destroyed" a nursing home in Monette, a county official said. Another person died elsewhere in the state.
Four people died in Tennessee, while one killed in Missouri.
"This event is the worst, most devastating, most deadly tornado event in Kentucky's history," said Kentucky governor Andy Beshear, adding he fears "we will have lost more than 100 people." The American Red Cross said it was working to provide relief across all five states.
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