Search for missing girls from summer camp after Texas floods kill at least 24
There were hundreds of rescues around Kerr County, including at least 167 by helicopter, authorities said, after nearly a foot of rain fell.
The total number of missing is not known, but the sheriff said between 23 and 25 of them were girls who had been attending Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along the river.
Families are reunited at a reunification centre after flash flooding hit the area (AP/Eric Gay)
On social media, parents and families posted desperate pleas for information about loved ones caught in the flood zone.
'The camp was completely destroyed,' said Elinor Lester, 13, one of hundreds of campers at Camp Mystic.
'A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.'
She said a raging storm woke up her cabin around 1.30am on Friday (7.30am on Friday BST). When rescuers arrived, they tied a rope for the girls to hold as the children in her cabin walked across the bridge with floodwaters whipping around their knees.
The flooding in the middle of the night on the July 4 US holiday caught many residents, campers and officials by surprise.
First responders scan the banks of the Guadalupe River for individuals swept away by flooding in Ingram, Texas (Michel Fortier/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)
Officials defended their preparations for severe weather and their response, but said they had not expected such an intense downpour that was, in effect, the equivalent of months' worth of rain for the area.
One US National Weather Service forecast this week had called for only between three and six inches of rain, said Nim Kidd, the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
'It did not predict the amount of rain that we saw,' he said.
At a news conference late on Friday, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said 24 people had been confirmed killed. Authorities said 237 people had been rescued so far.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Two young girls miraculously found alive clinging to huge tree after being swept away in Texas floods
Two young girls miraculously found alive clinging to huge tree after being swept away in Texas floods The rescue represents a rare moment of hope after Kerr County authorities confirmed at least 59 deaths (Image: AFP via Getty Images ) In an extraordinary rescue, two young girls who went missing during the severe floods in Texas were discovered alive, clinging to a tree nearly 30ft high. The girls were rescued in the area between Comfort and Homillus Road in Center Point, during an ongoing search operation. Eyewitnesses described the dramatic rescue, which provided a rare glimmer of hope amidst the devastation. However, the same search efforts also recovered four bodies in the area, as reported by The Kerr County Lead. As of Sunday, Kerr County authorities confirmed at least 59 deaths, with no clear total of missing individuals across the county that has been severely impacted by the flooding. Among the confirmed dead are at least 21 children, including some who went missing from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls in Hunt, Texas. According to Elinor Lester, a 13-year-old camper who was rescued, the camp was "completely destroyed". Recounting the terrifying experience, she said: "The camp was completely destroyed. "A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary." The flash floods have left a trail of destruction in their wake, with water levels rising a staggering 26ft in just 45 minutes on Friday, sweeping away homes and vehicles. Article continues below With flash flood watches still in effect and further rain falling in central Texas on Sunday, the danger is far from over, reports the Manchester Evening News. Search teams utilising helicopters, boats, and drones have been working tirelessly to locate victims and assist individuals trapped in trees or isolated by destroyed roads, with more than 850 individuals rescued in just the initial 36 hours, according to official reports. President Donald Trump has activated Federal Emergency Management Agency support for Texas by formally signing a major disaster declaration for Kerr County. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here "These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing," stated Trump on his social media channels. In a dedicated effort to manage the catastrophe, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has promised relentless action by authorities, revealing that as floodwaters retreat, new areas are being explored. He's also designated the upcoming Sunday as a day for prayer across the state. "I urge every Texan to join me in prayer this Sunday - for the lives lost, for those still missing, for the recovery of our communities, and for the safety of those on the front lines," read Abbott's official statement. Article continues below Meanwhile, in Rome, Pope Leo XIV dedicated special prayers to those affected by the calamity. peaking in English after his Sunday noon blessing, the pontiff said: "I would like to express sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, in particular their daughters who were in summer camp, in the disaster caused by the flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas in the United States. We pray for them."
Daily Mirror
12 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Pope Leo XIV's touching message to families of Texas flood victims
Search teams are using helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims in flash floods that have torn across central Texas since the at the start of the July Fourth weekend Pope Leo XIV has broken his silence following the devastating floods in Texas that have claimed the lives of at least 79 pople. Kerr county remains the worst affected area, with a total of 68 deaths including 28 dead at Camp Mystic alone - four are in Travis County, two in Kendall County, three in Burnet County, one in Williamson County, and one in Tom Green County. Texas National Guard has so far rescued 520 people but Texas Governor Greg Abbott said around 41 people were still missing, as search and rescue missions continue in the area where floods destroyed entire homes. Search teams are using helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims in flash floods that have torn across central Texas since the at the start of the July Fourth weekend. According to the Guardian an official has received unconfirmed reports of 'an additional wall of water' flowing down some of the creeks in the Guadalupe Rivershed, as rain continued to fall on soil in the region already saturated from Friday's rains. Pope Leo XIV took to X yesterday to say: "I would like to express sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, in particular their daughters, who were at the summer camp, in the disaster caused by flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas in the United States. We pray for them." Donald Trump has said he will "probably" visit Texas on Friday, following the flash flooding that killed 79 people in the state. "We want to leave a little time," he told reporters this afternoon. "I would have done it today, but we would just be in their way, probably Friday." He said he has been in touch with the Texas governor. The Guadalupe River surged by 30ft above its typical level with racing watering destroying Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp in Hunt. Several young girls remain missing as a huge rescue effort continues to find those still unaccounted for. Many of the missing girls are younger children who had been sleeping just yards away from the river. They had been sleeping on the low-laying "flats" in the camp's cabins, with the older girls sleeping in cabins on higher grounds. The director of the camp, Richard Eastland, 70, died as he tried to save girls. US President Donald Trump said those affected by the floods were "enduring an unimaginable tragedy."
Daily Record
14 hours ago
- Daily Record
Texas floods summer camp miracle as two girls found alive 'clinging to tree'
The children have been rescued between Comfort and Homillus Road in Center Point. Two girls who were missing after devastating floods in Texas have been found alive, clinging onto a 30ft tree. Reports suggest that the two children have been rescued between Comfort and Homillus Road in Center Point. Witnesses said the girls were found as teams recovered four bodies from the area. It comes as there have been at least 59 confirmed deaths in the area. Among Kerr Country's confirmed dead are at least 21 children. The missing girls were from Camp Mystic, a riverside Christian camp in Hunt. As reported in the Mirror, the destructive, fast-moving waters rose 26 feet (8m) on the river in only 45 minutes before daybreak on Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger was not over as flash flood watches remained in effect and more rain fell in central Texas on Sunday. Searchers used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims and to rescue people stranded in trees and from camps isolated by washed-out roads. Officials said more than 850 people were rescued in the first 36 hours. President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County today, activating the Federal Emergency Management Agency to Texas. Trump said: "These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing." Texas Governor Greg Abbott vowed that authorities will work around the clock and said new areas were being searched as the water receded. He declared Sunday a day of prayer for the state. He said: "I urge every Texan to join me in prayer this Sunday - for the lives lost, for those still missing, for the recovery of our communities, and for the safety of those on the front lines." In Rome, Pope Leo XIV offered special prayers for those touched by the disaster. History's first American pope spoke in English at the end of his Sunday noon blessing, saying: "I would like to express sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, in particular their daughters who were in summer camp, in the disaster caused by the flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas in the United States. We pray for them."
