US media: over 100 killed in Texas flooding
Rescue teams raced to search for survivors in Kerr County, which saw the worst damage. The downpours drenched the area along the Guadalupe River in the early hours Friday. Authorities said the rain came so fast overnight that many people likely had no chance to reach safety.
One local woman said, "If you had seen what July 3 looked like, you would never guess that this was coming that night."
A male resident described how the waters rose swiftly, saying: "I grabbed my wife and we literally jumped in the water and it swept us down to about 200 feet down the way. And there is a Crape Myrtle tree that we grabbed hold of and we waited for rescue."
Leaders of Camp Mystic, a Christian girls' camp on the river said they are experiencing "unimaginable tragedy." The flooding suddenly hit the century-old summer camp, killing at least 27 campers and counselors. Officials said 11 people are still missing from the camp.
The National Weather Service said more rain and thunderstorms are expected in the Central Texas region, carrying a chance of more flash floods.
US President Donald Trump has signed a Major Disaster Declaration for Kerr County. The White House said he may be traveling to the devastated area on Friday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Times
3 hours ago
- Japan Times
More than 160 people still missing days after deadly Texas floods
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 rise further as the grim search continues. "Just in the Kerr County area alone, there are 161 people who are known to be missing," he told reporters. "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. 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." In the town of Hunt, the epicenter of the disaster, recovery workers combed 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 travel to Texas with First Lady Melania Trump on Friday, and credited his strong ties with Abbott, a Republican, as having helped the rescue effort. "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. And we got them there fast, and Texas had some good ones too, but the response has been incredible," 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.
Japan Times
a day ago
- Japan Times
Camp confirms worst fears as Texas flooding deaths exceed 90
Three days after cataclysmic floods tore through a stretch of the Texas Hill Country, officials have confirmed the deaths of 27 children and counselors who had been missing from a girls' summer camp. Authorities counted more than 90 deaths statewide and said the number was almost certain to climb as rescuers sorted through mounds of debris. Officials refused to say at a news conference Monday how many additional people were still believed missing, but warned that more heartache was sure to come. The confirmation from Camp Mystic about its campers was a devastating blow to family and community members who had been holding out hope for their survival. More than 750 kids were at the property along the Guadalupe River on Friday morning when torrential rains unleashed a flash flood that swept away cabins, campsites, bridges and roads, hampering search and recovery efforts. "Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy,' according to a statement. "We are praying for them constantly.' Rescuers continued to search an area more than 100 kilometers long in the Hill Country, a largely rural area with limited mobile-phone reception. It had been packed over the Fourth of July holiday weekend with vacationers, many of them families who flock to the region's campgrounds and recreational vehicle (RV) parks year after year to enjoy spring-fed rivers that provide respite from the summer heat in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. The area sprawls across all or part of more than 20 counties in central Texas. "We remain hopeful every foot, every mile, every bend of the river,' said Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring, Jr. "Our work continues.' Statewide, at least 91 people have died, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday, citing figures from the Department of Homeland Security. Seventy-five bodies were found in Kerr County, while 14 additional deaths occurred in Travis, Burnet, Williamson, Tom Green and Kendall counties, the Associated Press reported. There could still be scattered showers across central Texas on Tuesday, but the bulk of the rain should be moving further north into Arkansas. Most flood warnings and watches across central Texas should expire by 7 p.m. Monday, the National Weather Service said. Camp Mystic, about 137 km northwest of San Antonio, is one of several youth camps in the Hill Country popular with families who send kids for monthlong getaways at places such as Camp Longhorn and Camp Waldemar. The girls at Mystic had been at the center of the frantic search for survivors with photos of them circulating widely on social media. The camp's director, Richard Eastland, died as he was trying to save campers, according to the Kerrville Daily Times. Local, state and federal officials have faced criticism in the aftermath of the tragedy, including questions about why the flood-prone county lacked warning sirens, whether forecasts accurately conveyed the risk of a catastrophic deluge and whether local officials could have better notified people overnight to move to higher ground. Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, downplayed concerns that President Donald Trump's cuts to the National Weather Service played a role in the failure to evacuate people before the floods. He said an examination of what went wrong would be forthcoming, but that for now the best focus was on recovery efforts. "Most normal Americans know that's ridiculous, and I think this is not a time for partisan attacks,' Cruz said. "My hope is in time we will learn some lessons to implement.' Leavitt dismissed criticism of the weather service. "Those comments are depraved and despicable,' she told reporters. Gov. Greg Abbott said the state legislature will take up the issue of warning systems at a special session. Trump has approved a disaster declaration for the area and may visit Texas on Friday.
NHK
a day ago
- NHK
US media: over 100 killed in Texas flooding
People living in the US state of Texas have seen their homes and communities devastated by the deadliest flooding in decades. US media reported that more than 100 people had been killed, including many children, as of Monday evening. Rescue teams raced to search for survivors in Kerr County, which saw the worst damage. The downpours drenched the area along the Guadalupe River in the early hours Friday. Authorities said the rain came so fast overnight that many people likely had no chance to reach safety. One local woman said, "If you had seen what July 3 looked like, you would never guess that this was coming that night." A male resident described how the waters rose swiftly, saying: "I grabbed my wife and we literally jumped in the water and it swept us down to about 200 feet down the way. And there is a Crape Myrtle tree that we grabbed hold of and we waited for rescue." Leaders of Camp Mystic, a Christian girls' camp on the river said they are experiencing "unimaginable tragedy." The flooding suddenly hit the century-old summer camp, killing at least 27 campers and counselors. Officials said 11 people are still missing from the camp. The National Weather Service said more rain and thunderstorms are expected in the Central Texas region, carrying a chance of more flash floods. US President Donald Trump has signed a Major Disaster Declaration for Kerr County. The White House said he may be traveling to the devastated area on Friday.
