America: 6 simultaneous tornadoes hit Iowa and Kentucky, death toll exceeds 20 so far

Arab Weather - Severe weather disturbances that struck parts of Missouri and Kentucky, accompanied by a number of tornadoes, have resulted in the deaths of 21 people so far, including nine deaths in Kentucky alone. Rescue efforts and the search for survivors continue amid the rubble.

St. Louis, Missouri, saw widespread destruction, with more than 5,000 buildings damaged and numerous power lines downed, while mass casualties were reported in Laurel, Kentucky, according to local police.

A curfew was declared in several areas for fear of looting and robbery.

Amid growing fears of a security vacuum, local authorities imposed a curfew in the most affected areas on Saturday evening in an effort to curb looting and ensure the safety of residents. To address the scale of the disaster, more than 500 fire and rescue personnel were deployed in St. Louis, including 17 specialized search and rescue teams.

6 simultaneous tornadoes in Missouri and Illinois

The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that at least six tornadoes struck Missouri and Illinois, accompanied by thunderstorm activity that extended to the Ohio Valley and the New Jersey coast, amid fears of renewed heavy rainfall and the possibility of flash flooding, which portends a further rise in the death toll.

Tornadoes in the United States are a seasonal phenomenon, but they are deadly and destructive.

According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the United States experiences an average of 1,200 tornadoes annually, resulting in 70 to 100 deaths and billions of dollars in damage, particularly in the southern states and the Great Plains.