Updated below with statements by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and CEO Andy Jassy.
Multiple people died after a tornado severely damaged an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Ill., late Friday.
Police confirmed fatalities but it’s not yet clear exactly how many people died. Update: Six workers are now confirmed dead, Reuters reported.
Amazon issued this statement from spokesperson Kelly Nantel in response to a GeekWire inquiry:
“We’re deeply saddened by the news that members of our Amazon family passed away as a result of the storm in Edwardsville, IL. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their loved ones, and everyone impacted by the storm. We’re continuing to provide support to our employees and partners in the area. We also want to thank all the first responders for their ongoing efforts on scene.”
Edwardsville is about 25 miles east of St. Louis. Amazon opened two warehouses there in 2016.
A series of tornadoes ripped through several states Friday across the central U.S., including Kentucky, where at least 50 are feared dead. President Biden called it an “unimaginable tragedy.”
Update, 6:50 p.m. Pacific: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and CEO Andy Jassy both addressed the situation on Twitter.
