UAE embassy offers condolences over Texas flash floods
Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba said "our thoughts are with those in Texas impacted by the devastating floods."
At least 59 people died in the flash flooding in Texas, and casualties could be even higher, a state official said Sunday as rescuers searched frantically for missing people.
US President Donald Trump on July 6 formally declared a 'major disaster' for the state of Texas under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.
Officials said more than 850 people had been rescued, including some who were clinging to trees, after a sudden storm dumped up to 15 inches of rain in an area around the Guadalupe River, about 85 miles (137 km) northwest of San Antonio.
Among the missing were 27 girls from the Camp Mystic summer camp, Kerrville city manager Dalton Rice said at a press conference on Saturday evening, and there may be others beyond that.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
15 minutes ago
- The National
Texas flash-flood death toll rises to at least 69 with more bad weather forecast
The death toll from flash flooding in central Texas has risen to at least 69, Governor Ted Abbott said on Sunday, with more bad weather forecast. Among the victims, most of whom were in Kerr County, were 21 children, the county sheriff said. A search is continuing for 11 girls and a counsellor who were staying at a camp near the Guadalupe River, which rose to about eight metres during the storms, breaking its banks. The US National Weather Service declared a flash flood emergency for parts of Kerr County in the south-central Texas Hill Country, about 100km north-west of San Antonio, after thunderstorms dumped as much as 38cm of rain on the area at the holiday weekend. US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he has signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County. "These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing," he said in a post on Truth Social. "The Trump administration continues to work closely with state and local leaders." Mr Trump has indicated in the past that his administration plans to scale back the federal government's role in responding to natural disasters, leaving states to shoulder more of the burden. Officials said more than 850 people had been rescued, including some clinging to trees, although it was unclear exactly how many people in the area were still missing. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said a "moderate" flood watch issued on Thursday by the National Weather Service had not accurately predicted the extreme rainfall and said the Trump administration was working to upgrade the system. Some experts have questioned whether cuts to the federal workforce by the administration, including to the agency that oversees the National Weather Service, led to a failure by officials to accurately predict the severity of the floods and issue appropriate warnings. More rain was expected in the area on Sunday. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for Kerr County into the evening. The UAE sent its condolences and solidarity on Sunday to the US after the floods. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its sympathy to the families of the victims, as well as to the people and government of the US.
Khaleej Times
30 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
Texas floods: Death toll reaches 78, including 28 children; Trump plans visit
The death toll from catastrophic floods in Texas reached at least 78 on Sunday, including at least 28 children, as the search for girls missing from a summer camp entered a third day and fears of more flash flooding as rain fell on saturated ground prompted fresh evacuations. Larry Leitha, the Kerr County Sheriff in Texas Hill Country, said 68 people had died in flooding in his county, the epicenter of the flooding, among them 28 children. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, speaking at a press conference on Sunday afternoon, said another 10 had died elsewhere in Texas and 41 confirmed missing. The governor did not say how many of the dead outside Kerr were children. Among the most devastating impacts of the flooding occurred at Camp Mystic summer camp, a nearly century-old Christian girls camp. Sheriff Leitha said on Sunday that 10 Camp Mystic campers and one counselor were still missing. "It was nothing short of horrific to see what those young children went through," said Abbott, who said he toured the area on Saturday and pledged to continue efforts to locate the missing. The flooding occurred after the nearby Guadalupe River broke its banks after torrential rain fell in the central Texas area on Friday, the US Independence Day holiday. Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd said at the press conference on Sunday afternoon the destruction killed three people in Burnet County, one in Tom Green County, five in Travis County and one in Williamson County. "You will see the death toll rise today and tomorrow," said Freeman Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, also speaking on Sunday. Officials said on Saturday that more than 850 people had been rescued, including some clinging to trees, after a sudden storm dumped up to 15 inches (38 cm) of rain across the region, about 85 miles (140 km) northwest of San Antonio. "Everyone in the community is hurting," Leitha told reporters. A wall of water Kidd said he was receiving 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. He said aircraft were sent aloft to scout for additional floodwaters, while search-and-rescue personnel who might be in harm's way were alerted to pull back from the river in the meantime. The National Weather Service issued flood warnings and advisories for central Texas that were to last until 4:15pm local time (2115 GMT) as rains fell, potentially complicating rescue efforts. The Federal Emergency Management Agency was activated on Sunday and is deploying resources to first responders in Texas after President Donald Trump issued a major disaster declaration, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. US Coast Guard helicopters and planes are helping the search and rescue efforts, the department said. Trump, who said on Sunday he would visit the disaster scene, probably on Friday, has previously outlined plans to scale back the federal government's role in responding to natural disasters, leaving states to shoulder more of the burden themselves. Trump's administration has overseen thousands of job cuts from the National Weather Service's parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, leaving many weather offices understaffed, former NOAA director Rick Spinrad said.
Khaleej Times
10 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE embassy offers condolences over Texas flash floods
The UAE embassy in US offered "deepest condolences for the tragic loss of life" in the Texas flash floods. Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba said "our thoughts are with those in Texas impacted by the devastating floods." At least 59 people died in the flash flooding in Texas, and casualties could be even higher, a state official said Sunday as rescuers searched frantically for missing people. US President Donald Trump on July 6 formally declared a 'major disaster' for the state of Texas under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Officials said more than 850 people had been rescued, including some who were clinging to trees, after a sudden storm dumped up to 15 inches of rain in an area around the Guadalupe River, about 85 miles (137 km) northwest of San Antonio. Among the missing were 27 girls from the Camp Mystic summer camp, Kerrville city manager Dalton Rice said at a press conference on Saturday evening, and there may be others beyond that.
