The United States was hit by a tornado, and Amazon employees escaped death: like a train roaring, someone died in the toilet

Over the weekend, several U.S. states were hit by powerful tornadoes. The tornado caused an Amazon distribution center in Illinois to collapse, killing at least six people. David Kosiak, an Amazon employee, experienced the disaster firsthand and survived. He said the tornado hit the warehouse like a train whizzing through the building.

According to the local government, amazon warehouses were hit by a tornado at about 20:38 CET on Friday (10:38 Beijing time on Saturday) with winds of 155 miles per hour (about 249 kilometers per hour). Due to the impact, the roof was overturned and a concrete wall 11 inches (about 28 centimeters) thicker than a football field collapsed.

Amazon warehouses are devastated

Like a train whizzing through

Several employees said they were directed to restrooms by Amazon executives after receiving an emergency alert from the local government via their mobile phones. According to firefighters and the governor of Illinois, the first alert was issued 40 minutes before the tornado struck.

Amazon confirmed in an email that the warehouse received tornado warnings from various alerts. "Our team moved quickly to ensure that as many employees and partners as possible could reach the designated shelter." Amazon said in a statement, "We thank them for everything they do." ”

Kosiak, 26, has been working in an Amazon warehouse for 3 months. "I had already arrived at the warehouse, and as soon as I entered the building, they started screaming, 'Take refuge in place!'" Kosiak said, "We're in the bathroom. They dropped us off there. ”

"It sounds like a train running through the building. Tiles of the ceiling flew down. It's loud. Before we left, they arranged for us to take refuge on the spot – staying there for at least two and a half hours. ”

Died in the bathroom

Amazon freight driver Austin J. McEwen, 26, the only child in the family, loves to hear songs by singer Mac Miller and hunts with friends.

His colleagues said he died friday night while hiding from a powerful tornado in a bathroom in an Amazon warehouse. "He was a friend of mine and didn't get through the disaster," said Brian Erdmann, a colleague of McEwan who was on his way to the warehouse to deliver, "And if I came back 45 minutes early, I would probably be in the same place." I'll be with him. ”

In this disaster, 6 Amazon workers have been confirmed to have been killed, and McEwan is one of them. Amazon workers disagree on whether the restroom is the designated shelter. Amazon has not commented. At least 45 Amazon employees were safely evacuated. Local governments have given up hope of finding more survivors, shifting the focus from rescue to post-disaster recovery.

Some employees said they were carrying their phones at the time, in violation of Amazon's policy of banning them from using them at work. Amazon responded that employees and drivers can use mobile phones.

Continue to work in order to make a living

On Sunday, Amazon workers came to a warehouse across the street and began shifts, which were heavily guarded.

"It's a reminder of the trauma I just experienced, but I have to go back to work at Amazon," said Emily Epperson, a friend and colleague of McEwan' who said. ”

Source: Phoenix.com