They are looking for dozens of missing after a series of tornadoes in the United States.

Rescuers in the United States are working against the clock in hopes of finding lives under the rubble. The outlook is bleak after a series of tornadoes caused destruction in the east and south of the country, between the night of Friday and Saturday, December 11.

In Kentucky alone, the state government confirms the death of 70 people and the number could rise, while the search efforts continue.

In addition, the authorities corroborated the deaths of 14 people in other states hit by the climate phenomenon, which raised the total death toll to at least 84.

Reports put around 30 tornadoes that hit six states: Kentucky, Illinois, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Mississippi.

President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency for Kentucky, the hardest hit, authorizing the issuance of federal funds to help respond to the disaster. However, the president also promised assistance for the other impacted places.

“Losing a loved one in a storm like this is an unimaginable tragedy. We are working with the governors to make sure they have what they need while continuing the search for survivors and assessing the damage, “said Biden through his Twitter account.

Desperate search under the rubble of a Kentucky candle factory

One of the most shocking scenes took place in Mayfield, Kentucky, in the southeast of the country, where 110 workers from a candle factory were trapped when the storm brought down the place.

Of these, 40 people were rescued alive and the governor of the state, Andy Beshear, said that “it would be a miracle” to find more survivors.

“I pray for another rescue. I pray there will be one or two more, ”Beshear said, as teams searched through the rubble.

Attempts to help remove those trapped were difficult as the main fire station and Mayfield emergency services center were also affected by the tornado.

“It’s Christmas and she works in a place that makes candles for gifts (…) Giving up the gift of life to give a gift. We have not known anything and I do not presume anything. But I hope for the worst,” said Darryl Williams, Janine’s brother Denise Johnson Williams, one of the missing employees and mother of four.

The typhoon in this region spanned more than 200 miles, hitting at least ten counties.

A Mayfield resident described the arrival of the weather phenomenon as “a bomb (…) We never had something like this here,” said Alex Goodman, who added that the storm ripped the roof off his home, while he took shelter with his family in a shelter.

Aerial footage shows most of the city of about 10,000 reduced to rubble, with hundreds of toppled houses and downed trees and power lines, turning it into miles of desolate fields.

At least six dead in an Amazon warehouse in Illinois

Meanwhile, in the southern Illinois city of Edwardsville, one of the main rescue efforts centers on an Amazon warehouse where at least 100 employees were trapped.

The storm hit and knocked over part of the roof of the site as workers made the night shift change while processing orders before Christmas.

Authorities have already confirmed the deaths of six employees, but the death toll is feared to rise.

“We identified 45 people who made it out of the building safely, one who had to be airlifted to a regional hospital for treatment and there are six deaths,” said Edwardsville Fire Chief James Whiteford.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said he was “heartbroken” by the deaths. “Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones,” he expressed through his Twitter account.

The Retail, Wholesale and Department Stores Union of an Amazon facility in Alabama criticized the company for keeping the Illinois site open during the weather emergency.

Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee also report deaths from tornadoes

In Missouri, the governor’s office, Miker Parson, reported that at least two people were killed in the storm. Additionally, preliminary assessments indicate that the storms destroyed hundreds of homes and buildings.

Its inhabitants were surprised by the extent of the tornadoes, even workers at an office of the National Weather Service had to take shelter when the weather phenomenon passed near their office, in Weldon Spring.

“This was an incredible storm that lasted a long time and covered a huge amount of territory,” said Larry Vannozzi, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service office that covers the Nashville area.

Meteorological authorities are still working to determine if the storm caused a single tornado or several in this area.

Meanwhile, in Arkansas, the storm left one person dead and about 20 were trapped when it collapsed a nursing home in the city of Monette, as confirmed by Marvin Day, a judge in Craighead County, to which the affected town belongs.

One more person was killed when the storm hit a Dollar General store in nearby Leachville, state Governor Asa Hutchinson confirmed.

“Probably the most remarkable thing is that there is no greater loss of life (…) It is catastrophic. It is total destruction,” Hutchinson said after going through the rubble at the impacted asylum.

And in Tennessee, the Emergency Management Agency confirmed four deaths related to the climate phenomenon

“This is the saddest thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said after touring the Dresden community, one of the most devastated.

Throughout the east and south of the country, authorities continue to assess the damage, following one of the most devastating weather events in recent United States history.

With Reuters, AP and AFP