At least 24 people have been confirmed dead and dozens remain unaccounted for following a catastrophic flash flood that swept through south-central Texas, with rescuers racing against time to find more than 20 missing girls from a riverside summer camp.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed the death toll during a Friday evening press conference, describing the situation as a “mass casualty event.” The disaster struck after torrential rains caused the Guadalupe River to rise a staggering 26 feet in just 45 minutes overnight, inundating large parts of the region northwest of San Antonio.
Among the missing are around 23 girls who were attending Camp Mystic, a popular summer camp along the riverbank that hosted approximately 750 children. “That does not mean they’ve been lost, they could be in a tree, they could be out of communication,” Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said.
Some of the fatalities are believed to be children, officials said, as rescuers combed the flood-hit region for survivors. State and local officials estimate that 23 to 25 individuals remain unaccounted for.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a disaster declaration to expedite emergency support and resources. “We will not stop until everyone is accounted for,” Abbott said, sharing a video of a helicopter rescue where a victim was pulled from the top of a tree as floodwaters raged below.
President Donald Trump also addressed the disaster, calling the floods “shocking” and confirming that federal aid would be provided: “We’re working with the governor. We’ll take care of it.”
Over 500 rescue personnel and 14 helicopters have been deployed to the affected area. Major General Thomas Suelzer of the Texas Military Department reported that at least 237 people have been rescued, with 167 airlifted to safety.
Emergency officials warned residents to stay away from the area, citing dozens of impassable roads and continuing risk. Videos circulating online showed homes and trees being swept away by the surging water. Overnight rainfall in the region reached up to 12 inches, a third of the county’s average annual rainfall.
Freeman Martin, Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, warned that the threat is far from over. “This is not going to end today, we’re bracing for another wave of flooding in other counties,” he said.
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly admitted there was no advance warning for the overnight flood. “We didn’t know this flood was coming. This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States,” he said, referring to the Guadalupe River.
Meteorologists have issued continuing flood warnings, urging residents near the river to move to higher ground immediately. Scientists warn that climate change is fueling more frequent and intense flash floods, such as the one that killed at least 10 people in San Antonio just last month.
As rescue operations continue into the night, families await news of missing loved ones, and the state braces for potentially more devastation in the days ahead.
Written By Rodney Mbua
