Severe storms, tornadoes kill more than 25 people in south-central US

Severe storms that swept through the US states of Missouri, Kentucky and Virginia left more than 25 people dead, laying waste to local communities and cutting off electricity to nearly 200,000, authorities said Saturday. 

Kentucky Governor Andy said on X at least 18 people had died in the storms Friday night, while local officials in Missouri said another seven were dead there. Two people were also killed by falling trees in Virginia, local media reported.The United States saw the second-highest number of tornadoes on record last year with nearly 1,800, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, trailing only 2004.