More Than 70 Dead As Tornadoes Flatten City Blocks In 5 US States

The western Kentucky town of Mayfield was "ground zero" of the storm -- a scene of "massive devastation," one official said.

Tornadoes ripped through five US states overnight, leaving more than 70 people dead Saturday in Kentucky and causing multiple fatalities at an Amazon warehouse in Illinois that suffered "catastrophic damage" with around 100 people trapped inside. This has been one of the toughest nights in Kentucky's history, with multiple counties impacted and a significant loss of life. I have declared a state of emergency and submitted a request to @POTUS for an immediate federal emergency declaration. https://t.co/KmMOl95t1N1/2 pic.twitter.com/Xj5DgTZp1Z

The western Kentucky town of Mayfield was "ground zero" of the storm -- a scene of "massive devastation," one official said.

Entire city blocks there were flattened, with houses and buildings ripped apart, and twisted metal, shattered tree limbs and bricks scattered across streets, according to pictures and videos shared on social media.'

"We were pretty sure that we would lose over 50 Kentuckians. I'm now certain that that number is north of 70. It may in fact end up exceeding 100 before the day is done," Governor Andy Beshear told a midday press conference in Mayfield.