St. Louis tornado: Violent storm leaves trail of wreckage; flips cars, topples trees, destroys buildings – watch video

A powerful wave of storms swept across parts of the US' Midwest and South on Friday, leaving at least 21 people dead and dozens injured.Kentucky and Missouri were hit hardest, with severe tornadoes destroying homes, flipping cars, and leaving communities reeling from widespread devastation.

In Kentucky, at least 14 people were killed. Nine of those deaths were in Laurel County after a suspected tornado tore through the area around midnight. Kentucky governor Andy Beshear said the death toll is expected to rise. Rescuers searched overnight for possible survivors, and an emergency shelter was set up at a local high school.Meteorologist Philomon Geertson from the National Weather Service said a tornado likely touched down, damaging rural parts of the state and reaching the London Corbin Airport.In Missouri, the storm hit St. Louis especially hard. Mayor Cara Spencer confirmed five deaths and said more than 5,000 homes were affected. “This is truly, truly devastating,” Spencer said, adding that a curfew had been imposed in the worst-hit neighbourhoods.One of the tragic deaths occurred at the Centennial Christian Church, where part of the building collapsed. Patricia Penelton, an active church volunteer, was killed.

John Randle, a university student, said he was at the St. Louis Art Museum during the storm. “You could see the doors flying open, tree branches flying by and people running,” he said.

Further south in Scott County, Missouri, two more deaths were reported after a tornado destroyed several homes. Forecasters have warned of more severe weather across the southern Plains, especially in north Texas.The National Weather Service reported that the St. Louis tornado likely touched down between 2:30 and 2:50 p.m., passing through areas including Forest Park, home to the city’s zoo and historic landmarks. Though the Saint Louis Zoo suffered some damage and remained closed on Saturday, spokesperson Christy Childs confirmed all animals were safe and no major injuries were reported among guests or staff.Hundreds of thousands lost power across the Great Lakes region as storms battered multiple states. In addition to tornadoes, the system brought large hail and intense heat.