Kentucky Tornado Death Toll: 5-Month-Old Baby, 'A Number Of Kids' Among Dead

More than 80 people, including a 5-month-old baby, are feared dead in Kentucky after tornadoes ripped through six states late Friday and early Saturday.

Among those who were killed in Kentucky was District Court Judge Brian Crick, authorities told 14 News Saturday. State police said the youngest death was a 5-month-old infant, while the oldest death was 75 years old.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said on CBS' "Face the Nation" Sunday that "a number of kids" were killed during the severe weather, including a 3-year-old in Graves County and a 5-year-old in Muhlenberg County. He previously said during a press conference that the death toll could eventually exceed 100 people.

"This is going to be some of the worst tornado damage that we've seen in a long time," Beshear said. "This is likely to be the most severe tornado outbreak in our state's history."

In addition to Kentucky, the tornadoes ripped through Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee.

At least 12 people, including Crick, are dead in the area of Bremen, Kentucky, authorities told 14 News. Another 13 people were confirmed to have died in Dawson Springs, Hopkins County Coroner Dennis Mayfield announced Sunday.

Eight of 110 people in a Mayfield, Kentucky, candle factory have been confirmed dead, while eight others have not been located, Al Jazeera reported, citing Bob Ferguson, a spokesperson for Mayfield Consumer Products.

The most fatalities the state has ever experienced from a tornado was 76 confirmed dead on March 27, 1890, data from the National Weather Service showed.

Meteorologist Rob Marciano said the twisters were "unusual" for December as it was "typically the quietest month for tornadoes, especially in Kentucky," ABC News reported.

It was unclear if climate change was a factor in the activity, but it could be making the environment "more favorable" for tornadoes due to the added warmth and energy, Marciano explained.

On Sunday, Beshear formally requested the government to declare a major federal disaster in the state, Reuters reported, citing Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) chief Deanne Criswell.

President Joe Biden declared a federal emergency in Kentucky prior to the request and has since responded via FEMA, but additional federal resources would be provided if Beshear's request is granted.

Assistance is limited to $5 million under an emergency declaration, while a major disaster declaration has no limit and "provides a wide range of federal assistance programs for individuals and public infrastructure, including funds for both emergency and permanent work," according to FEMA.