Wetin to know about di Texas flood wey kill over 80 pipo including children dem wey go camp
Sixty-eight of di fatalities, include 28 children, wey bin dey Kerr County, wia one riverside Christian girls camp dey located. Ten girls and one counsellor from Camp Mystic still dey miss.
Five confirmed casualties dey for Travis County, three for Burnet County, two for Williamson County, two for Kendall County and one for Tom Green County.
Figures dey change quickly as rescuers continue to search for pipo wey miss, and officials say e sure say death toll go rise.
'Horrific' flood sweep away girls for Camp Mystic summer camp
28 children dey among di pipo wey die. Dem be dey Kerr County, wia one riverside Christian girls camp dey located. Ten girls and one counsellor from Camp Mystic still dey miss.
Camp Mystic, na one Christian girls camp wey sit near di banks of di Guadalupe River for Texas, na place of laughter, prayer and adventure just days ago.
But just bifor daybreak on Friday, di Fourth of July public holiday, di river bin rise to 26ft (8m) in about 45 minutes for di middle of one heavy downpour.
Many of di hundreds of girls for di camp bin dey sleep for one low-lying cabins wey dey less dan 500ft (150m) from di riverbank.
Potopoto don cover di bed bunks now, wey show wetin remain of di summer camp wey cut short tragically.
Destroyed personal belongings scata across soaked interiors wia children bin once gada for Bible study and campfire songs.
Dem recover from Kerr County, 18 adults and 10 children wey dem neva formally identify.
Desperate Camp Mystic parents bin take to social media dey find tori about dia children.
One Facebook group - Kerrville Breaking News - turn into missing persons page.
Some parents don since update dia social media pages to say dia missing family members no survive.
Kerr County dey for di heart of di Texas Hill Country, one getaway destination sake of im scenic rolling hills, countless rivers and lakes and abundance of wineries.
But di region also dey known as "Flash Flood Alley", sake of di recurring threat wey don devastate local communities ova di years.
Wen pipo ask why di riverside summer camp no dey evacuated, officials say di sudden scale of di flood catch dem unawares.
"No-one know say dis kind of flood dey come," Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly tok.
More storms dey expected in di next 24-48 hours for di region, wey fit affect rescue teams wey already dey face poisonous snakes as dem dey waka through mud and debris.
Three days afta di flood, one of di largest search-and-rescue efforts for recent Texas history dey shift towards recovery operation.
Di major focus of di search na Camp Mystic.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Sunday tok say authorities go "stop at nothing" to ensure say dem find every missing pesin.
"E dey very horrific to see wetin those young children go through," Oga Abbott tok one day afta e tour di area.
E no clear how many oda pipo bin dey camp for di area for di Fourth of July weekend - and how many pipo di floods fit don sweep away.
One two-lane highway wey dey di Guadalupe River and connect di city of Kerrville to Camp Mystic na scene of devastation.
Fallen trees surround houses wey don destroy and furnitures scata everywhere. Fences don fall and utility lines no dey work for some areas.
Why di flood bin dey so deadly?
Questions don rise about if authorities provide adequate flood warnings and why dem no evacuate pipo ahead of di flood.
Judge Rob Kelly, di top elected official for Kerr County, tell CBS say di severity of di flooding dey unexpected.
"We no get any reason to believe dis go be anything like wetin happun for here. None whatsoever," Kelly tok.
Di first hint of di devastation to come bin appear on Thursday morning as rain and thunderstorms soak a number of central Texas counties.
Di National Weather Service (NWS) bin issue one common warning dem call flood watch at 13:18 dat afternoon for parts of di region, including Kerr County.
For di early hours of Friday, di outlook don become more serious as di NWS issue series of upgraded warnings. Di San Saba river, di Concho River and di Colorado River bin dey rise.
Within di space of 45 minutes, di Guadalupe River don rise by 26ft (8m), wey cause di banks to burst.
On Wednesday, 2 July, di Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) bin activate state emergency response resources sake of "increased threats of flooding for parts of West and Central Texas"
On Thursday afternoon, di National Weather Service (NWS) bin issue flood watch wey highlight Kerr County, central Texas, as place wey get high risk of flash flooding overnight
At 01:14 local time (06:14 GMT) on Friday, authorities issue flash flood warning for Kerr Country
At 04:03 local time (09:30 GMT) dem issue emergency flash flood warning for Kerr County, followed by anoda for di Guadalupe River at 05:34
By Saturday evening, at least 51 pipo don die, including 15 children.
For one news conference on Sunday 6 July, Governor, Greg Abbott tok say pipo for Texas dey used to flash flood warnings.
"But expectation no dey say di water wall go rise to almost 30ft high," e add.
What next?
President Donald Trump don sign one major disaster declaration on Sunday for Kerr County, and e activate di Federal Emergency Management Agency to Texas. E also say im go probably visit di state on Friday.
"We dey work very closely wit representatives from Texas, and na horrible tin happun, absolutely horrible," Trump tok on Sunday for New Jersey.
On di ground, local residents dey step up to support relief efforts - dem dey collect supplies, offer shelter, and dey do wetin dem fit do to help neighbours displaced by di storm.
Meanwhile, well wishes dey pour in from around di world.
For Rome, Pope Leo XIV bin offer special prayers on Sunday for di bereaved for Texas.
"I go like to express sincere condolences to all di families wey lost dia loved ones, in particular dia daughters wey dey for summer camp, for di disaster wey di flooding of di Guadalupe River for Texas for di United States cause," di pontiff tok.
"We pray for dem."
Angélica Casas and Alex Lederman contribute to dis report.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
House swept away as flash flooding hits mountain village in New Mexico
Floodwaters trapped people in their homes and cars Tuesday in a mountain village that is a popular summer retreat in southern New Mexico as monsoon rains triggered flash flooding and an entire house was swept downstream. Emergency crews carried out at least 85 swift water rescues in the Ruidoso area, including of people who were trapped in their homes and cars, said Danielle Silva of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. No injuries or deaths were immediately reported, but Silva said the extent of the destruction wouldn't be known until the water recedes. Officials urged residents to seek higher ground in the afternoon as the waters of the Rio Ruidoso rose nearly 19 feet (2.7 meters) in a matter of minutes amid heavy rainfall. The National Weather Service issued flood warnings in the area, stripped of nearby vegetation by recent wildfires. A weather service flood gauge and companion video camera showed churning waters of the Rio Ruidoso surge over the river's banks into surrounding forest. Streets and bridges were closed in response. Kaitlyn Carpenter, an artist in Ruidoso, was riding her motorcycle through town Tuesday afternoon when the storm started to pick up, and she sought shelter at the riverside Downshift Brewing Company with about 50 other people. She started to film debris rushing down the Rio Ruidoso when she spotted a house float by with a familiar turquoise door. It belonged to the family of one of her best friends. Her friend's family was not in the house and is safe, she said. 'I've been in that house and have memories in that house, so seeing it come down the river was just pretty heartbreaking,' Carpenter said. 'I just couldn't believe it.' Two National Guard rescue teams and several local teams already were in the area when the flooding began, Silva said, and more Guard teams were expected. The area has been especially vulnerable to flooding since the summer of 2024, when the South Fork and Salt fires raced across tinder-dry forest and destroyed an estimated 1,400 homes and structures. Residents were forced to flee a wall of flames, only to grapple with intense flooding later that summer. 'We know that the water levels seemed to be higher than they were last summer,' Silva said. 'It is a significant amount of water flowing throughout, some it in new areas that didn't flood last year.' Three shelters opened for people who could not return home. The sight brought back painful memories for Carpenter, whose art studio was swept away during a flood last year. Outside, the air smelled of gasoline, and loud crashes could be heard as the river knocked down trees in its path. 'It's pretty terrifying,' she said. Cory State, who works at the Downshift Brewing Company, welcomed in dozens of residents as the river surged and hail pelted the windows. The house floating by was 'just one of the many devastating things about today,' he said.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Flash flooding emergency in New Mexico triggers multiple rescues
Several rescues took place following flash floods in New Mexico, as a man and two children were washed away on Tuesday. 'A DANGEROUS situation is unfolding in RUIDOSO! A FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY remains in effect!' the NWS Albuquerque said at 5 p.m. E.T. on Tuesday. 'Do NOT attempt to drive through the floodwaters. The current will carry away your vehicle!' The flooding emergency in New Mexico comes as the death toll following flash floods in Texas has risen to more than 100 people. More than 160 people remain missing there. In a local storm report at 5.50 p.m., the National Weather Service said multiple rescue missions had started at Gavilan Trailer Park in Ruidoso, and another person was trapped in high water. "Homes starting to be moved by water," the NWS stated. A video shared on social media by Kaitlyn Carpenter, a Ruidoso resident, shows water taking a home down a river. The Albuquerque NWS shared images from the U.S. Geological Survey showing a river in Lincoln County, the Rio Ruidoso, rising about 15 feet in roughly an hour. "Stay away from the river! Seek higher ground NOW!" they wrote. USGS real-time data shows that water levels at the river, which is 30 miles long, were 'extremely' above the historic daily averages as of Tuesday morning. The NWS said it's possible that the Rio Ruidoso at Hollywood reached as high as 20.24 feet during the height of the flash flood. If that number is confirmed, it would be a record. Heavy rains overwhelmed the area, which is still dealing with the aftermath of the South Fork Fire, Fox Weather noted. Witnesses reported multiple incidents, including a home located behind a brewery being taken away by the swollen river in Ruidoso. Meanwhile, in Hollywood, spotters saw a man and two children washed away by the waters, while another saw a car being taken away by the floods. Many others were reported to be trapped, with several rescues needed for the trailer park. In a home close to Ruidoso Downs, a man and two children were reported to be trapped. In the neighborhood of Alto, an elderly woman needed rescue after becoming trapped in her home.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Floods death toll set to soar FAR higher than feared as sheer terror of victim who couldn't be saved emerges
The death toll in the devastating Fourth of July weekend floods which tore through Texas has risen to 111, but authorities fear that number could more than double in the coming days and weeks. At least 173 people remain missing five days after a '30-foot tsunami wall of water' wiped out cabins along the Guadalupe River and destroyed everything in its path. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said that number could continue to rise as efforts to track down unaccounted for people continue. But hopes of finding survivors are rapidly fading as the hours go by and it is becoming increasingly apparent that the rescue mission is shifting to recovery. Officials confirmed today the last 'live rescue' was carried out on Friday. In the four days since, they had only recovered bodies from the debris. 'We will not stop until we identify, recover every single body,' Abbott said on Tuesday afternoon. One of the tragic stories to emerge from the floods on Tuesday was the death of 64-year-old Sherry Richardson. Early Friday morning, her cabin along Little Creek River in Liberty Hill, Texas, was swept away by the rapid moving waters. Her daughter Delilah Greenslet said Richardson phoned 911 as she tried to seek help during the crisis. She reportedly spent 30 minutes on the phone to a first responder while climbing to the loft of her two-story cabin before the line finally cut out. She was last known to be trying to get onto the roof of her cabin. 'I just find it so hard to believe that we had no warning,' Greenslet said. 'We need some answers here in Texas.' Authorities are still working to identify many of the bodies which have been recovered. The victims include at least 30 children, many were little girls who were enjoying their summer at Camp Mystic - a century-old, Christian, all girls camp. Some 27 campers and counselors tragically died when the cabins primarily housing eight to 10 year old girls were swept away before daybreak on Friday. At least five girls and 19-year-old counselor Katherine Ferruzzo are still missing. 'The primary job right now continues to be locating everybody who was affected by this flood,' Abbott said. He said many of those who are not accounted for were staying in state's Hill Country but did not register at a camp or hotel. In the hardest hit Kerr County, 87 people have died and 161 remain missing, while seven bodies have been found in Travis and at least 10 remain missing. Eight people have died in Kendall, and Burnet has suffered five fatalities, with one person still missing. Williamson County has tragically lost three people, with one still missing, and at least one body has been located in Tom Green County. Abbott also clarified that state officials were aware that flooding was a possibility over the Fourth of July weekend, adding that resources had been deployed to the area for two days before the storm hit. 'We were ready with the resources on the ground to be able to quickly respond,' he said, but 'no one would know that that would be a 30-foot high tsunami wall of water.'
