Amazon warehouse collapse due to tornadoes leaves at least six dead

At least six people died when a deposit of Amazon Inc in Illinois, firefighters reported Saturday, bringing the death toll to more than 78 in a series of devastating tornadoes in various states across the United States.

“We identified 45 people who made it out of the building safely, one was sent by air for treatment at a regional hospital and there were six deaths,” Edwardsville City Fire Chief James Whiteford told reporters.

First responders were looking for those who might still be trapped, local police chief Mike Fillback told reporters.

The executive president of AmazonAndy Jassy said on Twitter that the company was “heartbroken over the loss” of its Edwardsville employees and would continue to work closely with local authorities in rescue efforts.

Relatives, desperate for news of their loved ones, gathered in front of the warehouse. A mother told a St Louis Fox news station that her son Clayton Cope, a 29-year-old maintenance worker, was dead. Police have not yet officially released the names of the victims.

“You have concrete and you have things hanging. It’s quite windy outside so things are unstable so they have to prop everything up so they can be safe,” Fillback said. “Our first responders will continue working in this place until everyone is located.”

Fillback said about 50 workers were believed to be in the warehouse when it was hit by an extreme “weather event” around 8:30 p.m. Friday. A devastating swarm of tornadoes swept through six US states, leaving a trail of death and destruction in homes and businesses that stretched for more than 200 miles.

At least 30 workers were taken by bus from the scene and others may have left on their own, Fillback said. He added that it was difficult to obtain an exact number of workers who may be unaccounted for because the warehouse did not have “a permanent staff.”

Drone footage from the scene showed rescue workers rummaging through a huge area of ​​debris in the pre-dawn darkness.

Tornadoes ravage the United States

US President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for Kentucky on Saturday after the state was hit by a series of tornadoes that killed more than 70 people.

In addition to the Amazon warehouse, tornadoes, which meteorologists say are unusual in colder months, demolished a factory and fire station in a Kentucky town, devastated a nursing home in Missouri.

Earlier on Saturday, Biden spoke with the governors of five of the tornado-hit states – Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee – to express his condolences and his commitment to deliver aid quickly, according to the White House.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is dispatching emergency response personnel, water and other necessary products to seven affected states, and Biden has ordered increased resources to the places in greatest need that will make other resources available and federal personnel.

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