‘Nobody saw this coming': Texas flood kills 59; 27 girls still missing after camp washed away, rescue efforts enter day 3
The death toll from the devastating flash floods in Texas has climbed to 59, with more fatalities feared, state officials said Sunday. 'We still have heavy rains today, and we lost others.
We're now up to 59. We expect that to go higher, sadly,' Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick told Fox News.
27 girls still missing from flood-hit summer camp
Rescuers continued a desperate third day of searching for 27 girls who went missing after floodwaters surged through Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County. Most of the confirmed dead were recovered from the camp site.
Raging waters rose 26 feet in 45 minutes
Authorities said the river rose by 26 feet in just 45 minutes before dawn on Friday, sweeping away homes, vehicles, and campgrounds.
Helicopters, boats, and drones were deployed across debris-filled landscapes to locate survivors. At least one flash flood warning remained in effect in central Texas on Sunday.
Governor declares day of prayer, Pope offers condolences
Governor Greg Abbott declared Sunday a day of prayer for the state. 'I urge every Texan to join me in prayer... for the lives lost, for those still missing, and for the safety of those on the front lines,' he said.
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Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, also offered condolences, praying for families who lost loved ones, particularly daughters at the summer camp.
Questions raised about preparedness
Authorities are facing scrutiny over whether sufficient warnings and evacuations were made in time. AccuWeather and the National Weather Service had reportedly issued flash flood alerts hours in advance. Still, many camps were caught off-guard.
Survivors recall terrifying escape
Camp survivor Elinor Lester, 13, described how she and other girls escaped with the help of rescuers using ropes to cross a flooded bridge. An 8-year-old girl from Alabama and a nearby camp director are among the confirmed dead.
Over 850 people rescued in 36 hours
More than 850 people were rescued within 36 hours, including from treetops and rooftops. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem assured federal support, with Coast Guard aircraft continuing operations after dark.
Locals cling to trees, take shelter in attics
Residents described harrowing survival stories. Erin Burgess said she and her teenage son clung to a tree for an hour after water rushed into their home. Barry Adelman recounted moving his entire family, including a 94-year-old and a child, into their attic.
'Nobody saw this coming,' say officials
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly called it a once-in-a-century flood. 'We know the river rises. But nobody saw this coming,' he said, adding that a proposed flood warning system had failed to materialize due to cost concerns. He said recovery efforts will now begin, calling it a 'long, toilsome task.'
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
The places where deadly Texas floodwaters have killed at more than 80 people
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel 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. More than 80 people have died and many more are still missing, including at least 10 girls from a summer the center of the tragedy is the scenic Texas Hill Country, where volunteers and some families of the missing have searched the riverbanks despite being asked not to do so. Authorities in surrounding areas closer to Austin, the state capital, have also recovered victims from a look at the known toll of dead and Hill Country Flash floods striking with the force to rip away concrete slabs and giant trees tore across Guadalupe River banks dotted with children's camps and County authorities had confirmed at least 68 deaths as of Sunday and said they had no way to total the number of missing across the county, the hardest-hit by the Kerr County's confirmed dead are at least 28 children. The missing campers were from Camp Mystic , a riverside Christian camp for girls in the small town of Hunt Travis County Six people in Travis County died in the flooding, county spokesman Hector Nieto said Sunday evening. The flash floods along creeks carried away homes, trailers, cars and people in the northwest portion of the County Judge Andy Brown, the top executive of the county, said earlier Sunday that some 50 people have been rescued by helicopter, in boats, and on foot. They've also sent resources to Kerr County, knowing that it was harder hit. While a flood watch remains in effect, officials say they have neutralized the initial emergency."Now we're going to be moving into recovery," said Eric Carter, chief Emergency Management Coordinator for Travis County Authorities in the largely rural county, which borders Travis County, reported three dead and five people missing in floodwaters that surged out of Cow Creek and other victims Two deaths were reported in both Kendall and Williamson counties, and there was one in Tom Green Williamson County, in the north suburbs of Austin, the U.S. military at nearby Fort Hood helped evacuate 16 people people from a home for disabled children, County Judge Steve Snell said. The victim in Tom Green County was a woman whose body was found outside her submerged car in the city of San Angelo.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Delhi breathes easier: National capital sees cleanest air streak of 2025 with AQI under 100 for 11 straight days
Delhi has recorded its cleanest air stretch of the year, with the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) staying below 100 for the 11th consecutive day, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). On Sunday, Delhi's AQI stood at 76 at 4 pm, placing it firmly in the 'satisfactory' category. The current spell of improved air began on June 26, when the index fell to 94 after registering a 'moderate' level of 134 the previous day. Since then, the capital's air quality has consistently remained under the 100 mark, a threshold CPCB categorises as satisfactory. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tinnitus: what this grandson discovered will surprise you Hearing Magazine Undo This extended phase of cleaner air comes as a rare respite for a city frequently plagued by hazardous pollution levels, particularly in winter months. Also read: Delhi Weather Today: Heavy rain lashes parts of National Capital amid IMD's yellow alert Live Events Rain, cooler temperatures aid pollution dip Contributing to the improved air quality is a mix of factors, including intermittent rainfall and relatively mild daytime temperatures. On Sunday, areas like Palam saw maximum temperatures fall to 33.5°C — nearly four degrees below normal and three degrees lower than the previous day. At Safdarjung, the minimum temperature stood at 28.8°C, close to seasonal averages. Humidity levels remained high across the city, touching 83% by evening. Despite the moisture, the rain has played a cleansing role in the atmosphere. Ayanagar recorded 11.7 mm of rain in the 24-hour period ending Sunday morning. Palam saw the highest at 20.9 mm, while Safdarjung and Lodi Road received lighter showers. More rain likely on Monday The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Monday, forecasting light to moderate rain with possible thunderstorms. Maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 33°C and 26°C, respectively. If current conditions persist, Delhi may extend its clean air streak even further—an encouraging sign for residents and policymakers alike during what is typically a season of fluctuating environmental indicators.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Death toll in Texas flash flood reaches 82, search for survivors intensifies as 10 girls from camp remain missing
The death toll in the catastrophic flash floods in central Texas has killed at least 82 people while desperate search for 41 missing persons, including 10 girls from a summer camp continue as fears of more flooding triggered evacuations of volunteer responders. The massive devastation along the Guadalupe River, outside of San Antonio has called for an extensive search effort as officials faced questions about their preparedness. According to sheriff of Kerr County in Texas Hill Country, Larry Leitha, 68 people had died in Kerr County which is being seen as the epicenter of the flood. The fatalities in Kerr County include 28 children where a riverside Christian girls' camp was submerged in waters and at least 10 girls and a counsellor from Camp Mystic are still missing. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, during a press briefing on Sunday afternoon, confirmed that 41 people were missing across the state. US President Donald Trump sent his condolences to the victims of the flash flood in Texas and said that he would visit the region on Friday. The Trump administration has been in touch with Governor Abbott. While leaving New Jersey, Trump told reporters 'It's a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible. So we say, God bless all of the people that have gone through so much, and God bless, God bless the state of Texas.' The massive flood hit the Texas Hill Country at a time when the area is already flood prone and many people were asleep due to a long holiday weekend to celebrate July 4 Independence Day. The Texas Hill Country in central Texas has already been prone to flash floods due to the dry-dirt packed areas where the soil, instead of soaking the water, lets it skid along the surface of the landscape. The flash floods which started on July 4 witnessed a bad storm and then poured 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rain overnight. The National Weather Service office, after issuing flood watch notice on Thursday, issued an urgent warning at 4am of flash flood that raised the potential of catastrophic damage and a severe threat to human life. By around 5:20am, people in the Kerrville City said water levels were rising alarmingly. The massive rain water flowed down hills and sent the water rushing into Guadalupe River.
