... those affected by this terrible Disaster. Source: https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/verheerendes-sturmsystem-wir-sind-ground-zero-tornados-richten-gigantische-verwuestung-in-mehreren-us-bundesstaaten-an/27885474.html Translation: Mayfield Rescue teams continue to search for survivors after the devastating tornadoes in the USA that are believed to have killed dozens. Particularly hard hit is the state of Kentucky, whose governor Andy Beshear said on Saturday, looking at the destruction: "We are ground zero." He said he was sure the death toll in his state alone in the southeastern United States would exceed 70. "It could even exceed 100." Saturday night was "one of the toughest" in Kentucky's history, he said. "I believe this will be the deadliest tornado to ever pass through Kentucky." The tornadoes left a swath of devastation across 200 miles (320 kilometres) in Kentucky. "Everything in their path is gone. Homes, businesses, government buildings - just gone. Parts of industrial plants, roofs are in trees. It's hard to imagine that this is even possible," Beshear said. "The devastation is unlike anything I've seen in my lifetime, and I'm struggling to put it into words." Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, on a visit to the disaster area, said the destruction in Kentucky was even worse than first feared. Photo: Car under remains of house. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, on a visit to the disaster zone, said the destruction in Kentucky was even worse than first feared. Among other places, the tornadoes turned a candle factory in Mayfield into a debris field - where work was going on Saturday night because of the peak Christmas season. Only 40 of the approximately 110 people in the factory were rescued, the governor said. Where the factory once stood, there is now a debris field more than four metres high with scrap metal and wrecked cars, he said. "It would be a miracle if anyone was found alive there." USA Disasters and catastrophes Natural disasters Joe Biden Republican Democrat (USA). Beshear swore in people in the disaster zone for difficult hours ahead, given sub-zero temperatures around freezing and widespread power outages. "It's going to be a tough night for a lot of people in Kentucky," he said. The governor's voice threatened to break at times - for example, when he talked about his father's hometown of Dawson Springs. "There's no house left a block from my grandparents' house," Beshear said. "And we don't know where all these people are." More than 30 tornadoes in six states. Retired Dawson Springs resident Lori Wooton told CNN she sat out the storm in a shelter. There was a lot of noise for three or four seconds and then the tornado passed. "But then when we came out and looked at the damage, it was unbelievable what happened in those three to four seconds." Other regions were also hit by the storm system. CNN reported more than 30 tornadoes in six states. Casualties were recorded in five of them - Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, Illinois, Kentucky and Arkansas. CNN reported a total of at least 79 dead. It will likely be days before the full extent of the disaster is known in the affected states. The roof of the Amazon centre collapsed. Six people were killed. In Illinois, the roof of a distribution centre of the online retailer Amazon partially collapsed. Six people died there, 45 people were rescued from the rubble, according to the fire brigade. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos expressed dismay at the "tragic reports" from Edwardsville. "We are heartbroken by the loss of our team members," he tweeted on Sunday night. The storm system is the latest in a string of natural disasters in the US. The United States has suffered from devastating storms, severe flooding and widespread wildfires this year. US President Joe Biden sees the accumulation and severity of the disasters as a consequence of climate change, which he has made one of his top priorities to combat. Biden pledged assistance to the states affected by the tornadoes on Saturday. "I promise you, whatever is needed, the federal government will find a way to deliver it," the president said at a last-minute appearance in Wilmington, Delaware. Biden on Saturday agreed to a declaration of emergency for the state of Kentucky, which was hit the worst by the tornadoes. Biden held out the prospect of a visit to the disaster area in Kentucky. He said, however, that he wanted to wait until he would not hinder the rescue operations. Together with First Lady Jill Biden, he said he was praying for the victims and their families. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)