MAYFIELD, Ky. (AP) — Eight people are confirmed dead at a Kentucky candle factory that was hit by a tornado and another eight remain missing, but dozens more have been accounted for, a company spokesman said Sunday, raising hope that the toll from a Midwest twister outbreak won’t be as high as first feared. Still, the governor expects the statewide toll to reach at least 50, and at least 14 people are dead in four other states: Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas and Missouri. While officials initially said only 40 of 110 workers at the candle factory had been rescued, spokesman Bob Ferguson said more than 90 people had now been located.
State officials expressed fears on Saturday as many as 100 people may have been killed from storms, but pared the estimate back on Sunday to “dozens”. Officials now say the tornado claimed 13 lives at Dawson Springs and 12 at Bremen in Muhlenberg County.
Authorities say at least 12 people were killed by a separate tornado struck Bowling Green early Saturday morning.
