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The death toll from the powerful tornadoes that devastated towns in Kentucky is likely to pass 100, the governor Andy Beshear says, as hope of finding survivors wanes. He has said Friday's tornado system was "the deadliest to ever run through" the US state - one travelled a record 365km, destroying everything in its path. Fourteen deaths have been reported in four other states. President Joe Biden has declared a major federal disaster in Kentucky and ordered federal aid to be made available to the hardest-hit areas.

Friederike Otto of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change in London, UK, explains what is known about tornadoes. She says these are hard to track, and although the US is seeing fewer tornadoes, these are becoming more powerful. She went on to say that people should learn to be prepared and know how to respond when these occur.

"The climate change we already have is more destructive that it used to be at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution."

Photo: Two neighbours comfort each other after a devastating outbreak of tornadoes ripped through several US states in Mayfield, Kentucky December 12, 2021 Credit: Reuters

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