Devastating Texas floods leave 13 dead, dozens missing in south-central US
'We have identified 13 fatalities,' Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha told a press conference after devastating floods swept through the region northwest of San Antonio, warning more casualties were likely.
Some of the dead were children, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said.
'About 23' girls were unaccounted for from Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River, which rose 26 feet (eight meters) in 45 minutes overnight, Patrick added.
'That does not mean they've been lost, they could be in a tree, they could be out of communication,' he said.
Patrick read out a message from the director of the summer camp, which had some 750 campers over the July 4 long weekend, reporting that it had 'sustained catastrophic level of flooding.'
'We have no power, water or Wi-Fi,' the message said.
State and local officials warned against residents traveling to the area which includes camp grounds dotted along the river, with dozens of roads 'impassable.'
Videos on social media showed houses and trees swept away by the overnight flash flood caused by heavy overnight rainfall of 12 inches – one-third of Kerr County's average annual rainfall.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott shared a video on X of a victim being plucked from the top of a tree by a rescuer dangling from a helicopter, as floodwaters raged below.
'Another wave'
'Air rescue missions like this are being done around the clock. We will not stop until everyone is accounted for,' he said.
Freeman Martin, director of the state's public safety department, said the flood was a 'mass casualty event.'
About 500 rescue personnel and 14 helicopters were deployed, with the Texas National Guard sending rescue teams and the US Coast Guard joining efforts.
'The rain has let up, but we know there's another wave coming,' Martin warned, saying more rain would be hitting areas around San Antonio and Austin.
'We didn't know this flood was coming,' Kerr County judge Rob Kelly said earlier on Friday, adding that the region has 'floods all the time.'
'This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States,' he added, referring to the Guadalupe River that flows through the region.
Forecasters issued a flood warning for Kerr County, urging those living near the Guadalupe River to 'move to higher ground.'
In mid-June, at least 10 people were killed by flash flooding in San Antonio following torrential rains. — AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Deadly Texas floods claim 50 lives, 27 girls still missing
HUNT, United States: Rescuers searched through the night early Sunday for 27 girls missing from a riverside summer camp in Texas, after torrential rains caused devastating floods that killed at least 50 people in the US state. Multiple flash flood warnings remained in place across central Texas after water surged through communities, with the Guadalupe River rising by 26 feet (eight meters) in just 45 minutes. The Kerr County summer camp where hundreds were staying was left in disarray, with blankets, teddy bears and other belongings caked in mud. "We have recovered 43 deceased individuals in Kerr County. Among these who are deceased we have 28 adults and 15 children," said Larry Leitha, the sheriff of the flood-ravaged region. Multiple victims were also found in other counties, bringing the death toll to 50 so far. There was better news for Congressman August Pfluger, who said Saturday his two young daughters were safely evacuated from Camp Mystic in flooded Kerr County, where the windows of cabins were shattered, apparently by the force of the water. "The last day has brought unimaginable grief to many families and we mourn with them as well as holding out hope for survivors," the Texas Republican wrote on X. It was unclear if the two girls were among the 27 that authorities said were still missing as of Saturday. Department of Homeland Security head Kristi Noem said the US Coast Guard was "punching through storms" to evacuate stranded residents. "We will fly throughout the night and as long as possible," she said in a post on X. Texas Department of Emergency Management chief Nim Kidd said air, ground and water-based crews were scouring the length of the Guadalupe River for survivors and the bodies of the dead. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said keeping the search going throughout the night was essential as "every hour counts." The flooding began Friday – the start of the Fourth of July holiday weekend – as months' worth of rain fell in a matter of hours. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that more rain was forecast, and that "excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations." In Kerrville on Saturday, the usually calm Guadalupe was flowing fast, its murky waters filled with debris. "The water reached the top of the trees. About 10 meters or so," said resident Gerardo Martinez, 61. "Cars, whole houses were going down the river." Flash floods, which occur when the ground is unable to absorb torrential rainfall, are not unusual. But scientists say that in recent years human-driven climate change has made extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and heatwaves more frequent and more intense. On Saturday, Sheriff Leitha said 27 children from Camp Mystic were still missing. Around 750 girls were attending Camp Mystic along the banks of the Guadalupe at the time of the flood. The owner and director of Camp Mystic was also dead, according to the Kerrville website, as was the manager of another nearby summer camp. Elsewhere in Texas, four people were confirmed dead in Travis County, northeast of Kerr, and 13 people were missing, public information office director Hector Nieto told AFP. A 62-year-old woman's body was found in the city of San Angelo in Tom Green County, along the Concho River, police said. Two more people died in Burnet County, the area's emergency management coordinator Derek Marchio told AFP, bringing the state-wide death toll to 50. Noem earlier said Trump wanted to "upgrade the technologies" at the weather service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). "We need to renew this ancient system," Noem told a press conference. Scientists and disaster management agencies have criticised Trump for cutting funding and staffing at the NOAA, in charge of weather forecasts and preparedness, and the NWS. When asked about claims that residents were given insufficient warning, Noem said she would "carry your concerns back to the federal government." Officials and residents alike were shocked by the speed and intensity of the flooding. "We didn't know this flood was coming," Kerr County official Rob Kelly said Friday. The rain was "double of what was anticipated," Kerrville city official Dalton Rice said. Soila Reyna, 55, a Kerrville resident who works at a church helping people who lost their belongings, witnessed the devastation unfold. "Nothing like as catastrophic as this, where it involved children, people and just the loss of people's houses," Reyna said. "It's just crazy."-AFP
Borneo Post
7 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Rescuers search for missing girls as Texas flood death toll hits 50
A large truck is impaled onto a tree after flash flooding on the bank Guadalupe River on July 5, 2025 in Center Point, Texas. – AFP photo HUNT, United States (July 6): Rescuers searched through the night early Sunday for 27 girls missing from a riverside summer camp in Texas, after torrential rains caused devastating floods that killed at least 50 people in the US state. Multiple flash flood warnings remained in place across central Texas after water surged through communities, with the Guadalupe River rising by 26 feet (eight meters) in just 45 minutes. The Kerr County summer camp where hundreds were staying was left in disarray, with blankets, teddy bears and other belongings caked in mud. 'We have recovered 43 deceased individuals in Kerr County. Among these who are deceased we have 28 adults and 15 children,' said Larry Leitha, the sheriff of the flood-ravaged region. Multiple victims were also found in other counties, bringing the death toll to 50 so far. There was better news for Congressman August Pfluger, who said Saturday his two young daughters were safely evacuated from Camp Mystic in flooded Kerr County, where the windows of cabins were shattered, apparently by the force of the water. 'The last day has brought unimaginable grief to many families and we mourn with them as well as holding out hope for survivors,' the Texas Republican wrote on X. It was unclear if the two girls were among the 27 that authorities said were still missing as of Saturday. Department of Homeland Security head Kristi Noem said the US Coast Guard was 'punching through storms' to evacuate stranded residents. 'We will fly throughout the night and as long as possible,' she said in a post on X. Texas Department of Emergency Management chief Nim Kidd said air, ground and water-based crews were scouring the length of the Guadalupe River for survivors and the bodies of the dead. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said keeping the search going throughout the night was essential as 'every hour counts'. The flooding began Friday — the start of the Fourth of July holiday weekend — as months' worth of rain fell in a matter of hours. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that more rain was forecast, and that 'excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.' In Kerrville on Saturday, the usually calm Guadalupe was flowing fast, its murky waters filled with debris. 'The water reached the top of the trees. About 10 meters or so,' said resident Gerardo Martinez, 61. 'Cars, whole houses were going down the river.' Flash floods, which occur when the ground is unable to absorb torrential rainfall, are not unusual. But scientists say that in recent years human-driven climate change has made extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and heatwaves more frequent and more intense. – Devastation at Camp Mystic – On Saturday, Sheriff Leitha said 27 children from Camp Mystic were still missing. Around 750 girls were attending Camp Mystic along the banks of the Guadalupe at the time of the flood. The owner and director of Camp Mystic was also dead, according to the Kerrville website, as was the manager of another nearby summer camp. Elsewhere in Texas, four people were confirmed dead in Travis County, northeast of Kerr, and 13 people were missing, public information office director Hector Nieto told AFP. A 62-year-old woman's body was found in the city of San Angelo in Tom Green County, along the Concho River, police said. Two more people died in Burnet County, the area's emergency management coordinator Derek Marchio told AFP, bringing the state-wide death toll to 50. – 'Catastrophic' – Noem earlier said Trump wanted to 'upgrade the technologies' at the weather service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 'We need to renew this ancient system,' Noem told a press conference. Scientists and disaster management agencies have criticized Trump for cutting funding and staffing at the NOAA, in charge of weather forecasts and preparedness, and the NWS. When asked about claims that residents were given insufficient warning, Noem said she would 'carry your concerns back to the federal government.' Officials and residents alike were shocked by the speed and intensity of the flooding. 'We didn't know this flood was coming,' Kerr County official Rob Kelly said Friday. The rain was 'double of what was anticipated,' Kerrville city official Dalton Rice said. Soila Reyna, 55, a Kerrville resident who works at a church helping people who lost their belongings, witnessed the devastation unfold. 'Nothing like as catastrophic as this, where it involved children, people and just the loss of people's houses,' Reyna said. 'It's just crazy.' – AFP death toll flash floods flood victims texas
The Sun
12 hours ago
- The Sun
Rescuers search for missing girls as Texas flood death toll hits 50
HUNT: Rescuers searched Saturday for 27 girls missing from a riverside summer camp in Texas, after torrential rains caused devastating floods that killed 50 people in the US state. Multiple flash flood warnings remained in place across central Texas after water surged through communities, with the Guadalupe River rise by 26 feet (eight meters) in just 45 minutes. The Kerr County summer camp where hundreds were staying was left in disarray, with blankets, teddy bears and other belongings caked in mud. 'We have recovered 43 deceased individuals in Kerr County. Among these who are deceased we have 28 adults and 15 children,' said Larry Leitha, the sheriff of the flood-ravaged region. Multiple victims were also found in other counties, bringing the death toll to 50. Texas Department of Emergency Management chief Nim Kidd said air, ground and water-based crews were scouring the length of the Guadalupe River for survivors and the bodies of the dead. 'We will continue the search until all those who are missing are found,' he said. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said he was expanding a state disaster declaration and was requesting additional federal resources from President Donald Trump. The flooding began Friday -- the start of the Fourth of July holiday weekend -- as months' worth of rain fell in a matter of hours. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that more rain was forecast, and that 'excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.' In Kerrville on Saturday, the usually calm Guadalupe was flowing fast, its murky waters filled with debris. 'The water reached the top of the trees. About 10 meters or so,' said resident Gerardo Martinez, 61. 'Cars, whole houses were going down the river.' Flash floods, which occur when the ground is unable to absorb torrential rainfall, are not unusual. But scientists say that in recent years human-driven climate change has made extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and heatwaves more frequent and more intense. Devastation at Camp Mystic On Saturday, Sheriff Leitha said 27 children from Camp Mystic in flooded Kerr County were still missing. Around 750 girls were attending the camp along the banks of the Guadalupe. US media reported that four of the missing girls were dead, citing their families. The windows of camp cabins were shattered, apparently by the force of the water. Michael, who only gave AFP his first name, was searching the camp for his eight-year-old daughter. 'I was in Austin and drove down yesterday morning, once we heard about it,' he said, adding that he was hoping for a 'miracle.' The obituary section of the Kerrville community news site was dotted with tributes to victims, including Camp Mystic's owner and director Dick Eastland. The director of Heart O' The Hills summer camp located about a mile from Camp Mystic, Jane Ragsdale, was also confirmed dead. Elsewhere in Texas, four people were confirmed dead in Travis County, northeast of Kerr, and 13 people were missing, public information office director Hector Nieto told AFP. A 62-year-old woman's body was found in the city of San Angelo in Tom Green County, along the Concho River, police said. Two more people died in Burnet County, the area's emergency management coordinator Derek Marchio told AFP, bringing the state-wide death toll to 50. 'Catastrophic' Department of Homeland Security head Kristi Noem said Trump wanted to 'upgrade the technologies' at the weather service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 'We need to renew this ancient system,' Noem told a press conference. Scientists and disaster management agencies have criticized Trump for cutting funding and staffing at the NOAA, in charge of weather forecasts and preparedness, and the NWS. When asked about claims that residents were given insufficient warning of the floods, Noem said she would 'carry your concerns back to the federal government.' Officials and residents alike were shocked by the speed and intensity of the flooding. 'We didn't know this flood was coming,' Kerr County official Rob Kelly said Friday. 'The predictions were definitely off,' and the rain was 'double of what was anticipated,' Kerrville city official Dalton Rice said. Rice added that rescuers were facing 'very difficult' conditions, and declined to give an overall figure for how many were missing. Soila Reyna, 55, a Kerrville resident who works at a church helping people who lost their belongings, witnessed the devastation unfold. 'It has been years since we had a flood, but nothing like this,' Reyna said. 'Nothing like as catastrophic as this, where it involved children, people and just the loss of people's houses... It's just crazy,' she added.
