• Severe storms on Friday resulted in at least 16 fatalities across the Midwest.
• Multiple tornadoes touched down, notably in Missouri and Kentucky.
• St. Louis Mayor declared an emergency as thousands are left without power.
• Hospitals treated numerous injuries, with some victims in serious condition.
• Extensive damage reported across various states, prompting search-and-rescue operations.

Severe storms sweeping across the Midwest have resulted in at least 16 deaths, including nine fatalities attributed to tornado activity in southeastern Kentucky. Authorities in Kentucky confirmed critical injuries as search and rescue operations continue in the areas affected by the tornado, particularly in Laurel County, where significant damage has been reported, according to Huffpost.

In Missouri, at least seven individuals were reported dead following storms that inflicted severe damage in the St. Louis area. Mayor Cara Spencer confirmed that over 5,000 homes were directly affected, and approximately 100,000 customers were left without electricity. The storms caused roofs to be torn off buildings and trees to fall on power lines, leading to emergency declarations and curfews in particularly affected neighborhoods, according to latimes and NPR.

The National Weather Service indicated that tornadoes touched down in Missouri and Kentucky during the severe weather event. In St. Louis, radar confirmed a tornado touched down briefly between 2:30 p.m. and 2:50 p.m., causing chaos as local residents reported hail, heavy winds, and extensive damage in the form of uprooted trees and structural collapse, as reported by Huffpost, latimes, and NPR.

Multiple hospitals, including Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s, received casualties, treating dozens with storm-related injuries. The number of serious injuries remains unclear, but officials confirm that emergency room capabilities are challenged due to the high volume of patients. Additionally, many victims are expected to require ongoing treatment, according to latimes and NPR.

The storms affected traffic and infrastructure heavily, with downed trees and power lines causing gridlock throughout the city. Officials advised residents to stay indoors due to hazardous conditions while they assess the extent of the damage. Moreover, emergency services continue to be deployed to assist in search and rescue efforts amidst the widespread destruction, according to Huffpost, latimes, and NPR.

As weather conditions deteriorated, weather forecasters issued warnings for continuing severe storms, which could lead to further tornadoes and hazardous conditions across several states, including parts of Appalachia and the Midwest. Residents have been urged to prepare for more dangerous weather as the storm system continues to track across the region through the night, according to latimes, NPR, and Huffpost.