By Gabriella Borter

MAYFIELD KY. (Reuters) – Rescue workers resumed digging through rubble Monday to try and find survivors after a string of devastating tornadoes that ravaged six US states. Kentucky officials are still trying to establish how many died.

The White House announced that President Joe Biden declared Sunday a major federal catastrophe in Kentucky. This will allow for federal assistance. Andy Beshear, the Kentucky governor requested that the declaration be made earlier in the day.

Beshear estimated that the Friday tragedy would result in 80 deaths. It is likely that this number will rise to 100. But, Beshear expressed hope that the actual death toll at the candle factory which was destroyed may be lower than initially believed.

Mayfield is a small town with approximately 10,000 people in Kentucky’s southwest corner. It was the location of the factory. A tornado also destroyed the fire station and police stations. Many homes were destroyed or left without roofs. Giant trees were uprooted, and signs on the streets were damaged.

Up to 70 people had been believed dead at the factory, however, a spokesperson for the company said that the actual number was 16 and stated that eight of those workers were dead. Eight others were still missing.

There were early reports that 70 workers could have died in the factory. Bob Ferguson of Mayfield Consumer Products LLC said that one is not enough. However, we praise God for the fact that this number has fallen to far, far fewer.”

Beshear said that while he could not confirm the lower death toll, unverified data from the company might be what he was hoping for.

Jacqueline Coleman (Kentucky Lieutenant Governor) and other officials had been scheduled to inspect storm damage in Taylor County on Monday morning and briefly brief reporters at 9 AM EST (1400 GMT). The city of Campbellsville is about 200 mi (312 km) east Mayfield.

Kentucky was the hardest affected, but six people were also killed in an Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:) warehouse collapsed in Illinois by the storm. One cargo driver died inside the facility, while others suffered injuries in the shower. Many workers said they were told to seek shelter.

Arkansas was the victim of a nursing home being struck, leading to one death. In Tennessee, four people were killed and two more in Missouri.