Camp Mystic confirms 27 dead in devastating Texas floods: ‘Our hearts are broken'
Camp Mystic
in Texas died in devastating flash floods that swept through the region, the camp said Monday. Rescuers in the US state of Texas on Monday searched for bodies swept away by flash floods that killed more than 80 people.
"Camp Mystic is grieving the loss of 27 campers and counselors following the catastrophic flooding," the camp said in a statement. "Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy."
Camp officials said they've been in contact with local and state authorities 'who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls.'
Texas was hit by 'catastrophic' flood over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, and forecasters warned that thunderstorms threatened more flooding over saturated ground.
ALSO READ:
North Carolina flooded as hurricane Chantal brings heavy rainfall, more than 5 million under alert
Live Events
The camp expressed gratitude for the support it's received from people in the wake of the devastating floods. "We ask for your continued prayers, respect and privacy for each of our families affected," the camp said. "May the Lord continue to wrap His presence around all of us."
At least 40 adults and 28 children were killed in the worst-hit Kerr County in central Texas, Sheriff Larry Leitha said Sunday, while at least 13 more people were killed by flooding in nearby areas. The death toll is expected to rise.
US President Donald Trump said he may visit Texas later this week, but brushed off concerns his cuts to weather forecasting and related federal agencies had weakened warning systems.
Instead, he described the floods in the early hours of Friday as a "100-year catastrophe" that "nobody expected."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Cloud seeding in New Mexico? Theory spreads amid flash floods in Lincoln, Ruidoso, and Hollywood
Several homes were swept away and multiple people reportedly trapped as flash floods hit parts of New Mexico on Tuesday afternoon. The affected areas include Lincoln County, Ruidoso, and Hollywood, where a flash flood emergency remains in effect. New Mexico witnessed flash floods, days after Texas saw catastrophic flooding. (AP) Videos circulating on social media show the Rio Ruidoso River rising rapidly. According to a NOAA river graph, the Rio Ruidoso rose 20 feet in just 30 minutes around 4 p.m. Tuesday. The river is located roughly 150 miles southeast of Albuquerque. The National Weather Service wrote in an alert, 'Homes starting to be moved by water.' This marks the third major flash flood event in the US in less than a week. Over the Fourth of July weekend, central Texas saw catastrophic flooding that claimed over 100 lives. Then, on Monday, flash floods struck parts of North Carolina. Following these back-to-back disasters, some social media users have begun speculating about cloud seeding as a possible cause. The unproven theory suggests that artificial weather modification may be triggering extreme rainfall. One person wrote on X, 'Domestic terrorism with cloud seeding? Just an idea. Texas. North Carolina. New within a week.' Another added, 'New Mexico is one of the states doing cloud seeding. This isn't a coincidence. It's all being done on purposes.' A third person wrote, 'Just like Texas, New Mexico has cloud seeding and weather modification as well. Oh wait… y'all think this is just one of those coincidence things and I'm a conspiracy theorist… got it!' Another user wrote, 'Wow, this is North Carolina and now New Mexico all in a week's time? Something is not right! If this has anything to do with cloud seeding, then there needs to be an immediate halt on the weather modification!" New Mexico's 2024 Pilot Project In February 2024, the New Mexico House of Representatives passed a bill establishing a pilot cloud seeding project in southeast New Mexico. Cloud seeding is a method of weather modification intended to enhance precipitation by introducing substances such as silver iodide into clouds. However, there is no evidence linking the ongoing pilot project to the flash flooding that struck New Mexico on Tuesday.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
More than 160 people still missing days after deadly floods
More than 160 people remain unaccounted for after devastating floods in Texas, U.S.A., the State governor said Tuesday (July 8, 2025), marking a dramatic increase in the number of missing from a tragedy that has so far claimed 109 lives. Four days after flash floods roared through several Texas counties, some in the middle of the night, hopes of finding survivors were fading — and Governor Greg Abbott warned that the list of those unaccounted for could yet rise. 'Just in the Kerr County area alone, there are 161 people who are known to be missing,' he told reporters Tuesday as the grim search continued. 'There very likely could be more added to that list,' he said, adding that the figure was based on people reported as unaccounted for by friends, relatives and neighbors. Kerr County worst affected Kerr County, part of a central Texas region known as 'Flash Flood Alley,' suffered the most damage, with at least 94 fatalities. That includes at least 27 girls and counselors who were staying at a youth summer camp on the Guadalupe River when it burst its banks as the Fourth of July holiday began in the early hours of Friday. Torrents of water swept through the camp, scouring cabins as hundreds of people slept. Five campers and one counselor were still missing as of Tuesday evening, according to Abbot, as well as another child not associated with the camp. 'There's nothing more important in our hearts and minds than the people of this community, especially those who are still lost,' Mr. Abbot said. Elsewhere in the State, there have been at least 15 fatalities recorded so far, the governor added. Mud, water make rescue difficult Ben Baker with the Texas Game Wardens said search and rescue efforts involving helicopters, drones and dogs were extremely difficult because of the water and mud. 'When we're trying to make these recoveries, these large piles can be very obstructive, and to get in deep into these piles, it's very hazardous,' Mr. Baker said. 'It's extremely treacherous, time-consuming. It's dirty work, the water is still there.' The U.S. National Weather Service on Tuesday declared a flash flood emergency in Ruidoso, a small town 184 miles (296 kilometers) south of Albuquerque, in the neighboring state of New Mexico. Officials reported several people were trapped by sudden floodwaters, with multiple homes sustaining damage. The NWS said the Rio Ruidoso may have crested more than 20 feet (six meters). Rain 'won't deter' search In the town of Hunt, the epicenter of the disaster, an AFP team saw recovery workers combing through piles of debris with helicopters flying overhead. Javier Torres, 24, was digging through mud as he searched for the body of his grandmother, after having located the remains of his grandfather. He also discovered the bodies of two children, apparently washed up by the river. Officials warned of more heavy rain ahead that could affect the search — though Mr. Baker said it 'won't deter' the efforts. Trump to visit President Donald Trump is due to visit Texas with First Lady Melania Trump on Friday (July 11, 2025). 'We brought in a lot of helicopters from all over... They were real pros, and they were responsible for pulling out a lot of people,' Mr. Trump said. Meanwhile, questions intensified over whether Mr. Trump's government funding cuts had weakened warning systems, and over the handling of the rescue operation. During an at-times tense news conference, Mr. Baker skirted a question on the speed of the emergency response. 'Right now, this team up here is focused on bringing people home,' he said. Shel Winkley, a weather expert at the Climate Central research group, blamed the extent of the disaster on geography and exceptional drought, when dry soil absorbs less rainfall. 'This part of Texas, at least in the Kerr County flood specifically, was in an extreme to exceptional drought... We know that since May, temperatures have been above average,' Winkley told reporters. The organisation's media director, Tom Di Liberto, said staffing shortages at the National Weather Service had contributed to the disaster. 'You can't necessarily replace that experience,' he said.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
More than 160 people still missing days after deadly Texas floods
Hunt: More than 160 people remain unaccounted for after devastating floods in Texas, the state governor said Tuesday, marking a dramatic increase in the number of missing from a tragedy that has so far claimed 109 lives. Four days after flash floods roared through several Texas counties, some in the middle of the night, hopes of finding survivors were fading -- and Governor Greg Abbott warned that the list of those unaccounted for could yet rise. "Just in the Kerr County area alone, there are 161 people who are known to be missing," he told reporters Tuesday as the grim search continued. "There very likely could be more added to that list," he said, adding that the figure was based on people reported as unaccounted for by friends, relatives and neighbors. Kerr County, part of a central Texas region known as "Flash Flood Alley," suffered the most damage, with at least 94 fatalities. Live Events That includes at least 27 girls and counselors who were staying at a youth summer camp on the Guadalupe River when it burst its banks as the Fourth of July holiday began in the early hours of Friday. Torrents of water swept through the camp, scouring cabins as hundreds of people slept. Five campers and one counselor were still missing as of Tuesday evening, according to Abbot, as well as another child not associated with the camp. "There's nothing more important in our hearts and minds than the people of this community, especially those who are still lost," Abbot said. Elsewhere in the state, there have been at least 15 fatalities recorded so far, the governor added. Ben Baker with the Texas Game Wardens said search and rescue efforts involving helicopters, drones and dogs were extremely difficult because of the water and mud. "When we're trying to make these recoveries, these large piles can be very obstructive, and to get in deep into these piles, it's very hazardous," Baker said. "It's extremely treacherous, time-consuming. It's dirty work, the water is still there." The US National Weather Service on Tuesday declared a flash flood emergency in Ruidoso, a small town 184 miles (296 kilometers) south of Albuquerque, in the neighboring state of New Mexico. Officials reported several people were trapped by sudden floodwaters, with multiple homes sustaining damage. The NWS said the Rio Ruidoso may have crested more than 20 feet (six meters). Rain 'won't deter' search In the town of Hunt, the epicenter of the disaster, an AFP team saw recovery workers combing through piles of debris with helicopters flying overhead. Javier Torres, 24, was digging through mud as he searched for the body of his grandmother, after having located the remains of his grandfather. He also discovered the bodies of two children, apparently washed up by the river. Officials warned of more heavy rain ahead that could affect the search -- though Baker said it "won't deter" the efforts. President Donald Trump is due to visit Texas with First Lady Melania Trump on Friday. "We brought in a lot of helicopters from all over... They were real pros, and they were responsible for pulling out a lot of people," Trump said. Meanwhile, questions intensified over whether Trump's government funding cuts had weakened warning systems, and over the handling of the rescue operation. During an at-times tense news conference, Baker skirted a question on the speed of the emergency response. "Right now, this team up here is focused on bringing people home," he said. Shel Winkley, a weather expert at the Climate Central research group, blamed the extent of the disaster on geography and exceptional drought, when dry soil absorbs less rainfall. "This part of Texas, at least in the Kerr County flood specifically, was in an extreme to exceptional drought... We know that since May, temperatures have been above average," Winkley told reporters. The organization's media director, Tom Di Liberto, said staffing shortages at the National Weather Service had contributed to the disaster. "You can't necessarily replace that experience," he said.
