
Father's Desperate Search For Daughter After Deadly Texas Flood
"My daughter was here," he said Saturday, examining a stone-walled cabin with shattered windows, eventually finding a towel with her name, a bracelet and a family photo.
Michael, 40, who declined to give his last name, lives in the state capital Austin and received the message every parent fears most on Friday morning: his child was missing.
She is among 27 girls who have yet to be found after powerful waves of water rushed through the riverside camp in the pre-dawn hours after torrential rainfall.
One of the walls of Camp Mystic's dining hall, a large wooden cabin, was completely ripped off by the force of the floodwaters, which left some 32 people dead in the Kerr County region of south-central Texas.
Scattered on the floor are bottles of maple syrup and Cholula hot sauce, staples of Texan tables.
Approximately 750 girls were staying at the camp when the flood hit, and the majority of campers were successfully evacuated.
Authorities said at least 18 adults and 14 children were killed when heavy rains engorged the Guadalupe River until it overflowed its banks, dotted by multiple campgrounds.
The search for Michael's daughter and 26 other girls continues.
US media reported that of the 27 missing girls, four were dead, citing their families.
Along the Guadalupe River, which rose over 26 feet (eight meters) in 45 minutes, devastation stretches as far as the eye can see.
The force of the floodwaters felled trees and overturned cars, as rescue teams worked -- on foot, in trucks, by helicopter and with drones -- to scour the debris in search of survivors or victims.
One girl was spotted clinging to a tree, Texas Governor Greg Abbott told reporters Saturday.
She held on "until a helicopter was able to descend upon her and lift her out of that harrowing situation," Abbott said.
The river's breach also damaged neighboring Kent County, flooding homes, knocking down fences and subsuming a fuel station.
Distraught parents searched for their children at reunification centers, posting photos to social media, calling for prayers and divine aid.
"There is a saying here that there's a flood every hundred years," said Gerardo Martinez, 61, who operates the Vecinos restaurant near a viewpoint.
"We had it. We've never seen anything like that and hopefully we won't ever see it again."
Martinez said he watched as waters topped trees and "cars, whole houses were going down the river."
The river runs through the city of Kerrville, where resident David Amorr, 35, said the floods felt "unreal."
"We see this stuff on TV. You don't imagine it happening so close, especially in your hometown," Amorr said.
"We also have two daughters. They could have been there, at the camps, missing. So we feel solidarity with those families."
At Camp Mystic, Michael continued to comb through the mud-soaked surroundings.
"I hope for a miracle. Absolutely," he said. Members of a search and rescue team look for survivors and victims of deadly flash flooding near Camp Mystic in central Texas AFP A damaged home is seen near Camp Mystic after deadly flash flooding in in central Texas AFP

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Int'l Business Times
05-07-2025
- Int'l Business Times
Father's Desperate Search For Daughter After Deadly Texas Flood
With a drizzle falling on Camp Mystic, the flood-ravaged Christian summer camp on the Guadalupe River in Texas, a father navigated the debris in search of his eight-year-old daughter. "My daughter was here," he said Saturday, examining a stone-walled cabin with shattered windows, eventually finding a towel with her name, a bracelet and a family photo. Michael, 40, who declined to give his last name, lives in the state capital Austin and received the message every parent fears most on Friday morning: his child was missing. She is among 27 girls who have yet to be found after powerful waves of water rushed through the riverside camp in the pre-dawn hours after torrential rainfall. One of the walls of Camp Mystic's dining hall, a large wooden cabin, was completely ripped off by the force of the floodwaters, which left some 32 people dead in the Kerr County region of south-central Texas. Scattered on the floor are bottles of maple syrup and Cholula hot sauce, staples of Texan tables. Approximately 750 girls were staying at the camp when the flood hit, and the majority of campers were successfully evacuated. Authorities said at least 18 adults and 14 children were killed when heavy rains engorged the Guadalupe River until it overflowed its banks, dotted by multiple campgrounds. The search for Michael's daughter and 26 other girls continues. US media reported that of the 27 missing girls, four were dead, citing their families. Along the Guadalupe River, which rose over 26 feet (eight meters) in 45 minutes, devastation stretches as far as the eye can see. The force of the floodwaters felled trees and overturned cars, as rescue teams worked -- on foot, in trucks, by helicopter and with drones -- to scour the debris in search of survivors or victims. One girl was spotted clinging to a tree, Texas Governor Greg Abbott told reporters Saturday. She held on "until a helicopter was able to descend upon her and lift her out of that harrowing situation," Abbott said. The river's breach also damaged neighboring Kent County, flooding homes, knocking down fences and subsuming a fuel station. Distraught parents searched for their children at reunification centers, posting photos to social media, calling for prayers and divine aid. "There is a saying here that there's a flood every hundred years," said Gerardo Martinez, 61, who operates the Vecinos restaurant near a viewpoint. "We had it. We've never seen anything like that and hopefully we won't ever see it again." Martinez said he watched as waters topped trees and "cars, whole houses were going down the river." The river runs through the city of Kerrville, where resident David Amorr, 35, said the floods felt "unreal." "We see this stuff on TV. You don't imagine it happening so close, especially in your hometown," Amorr said. "We also have two daughters. They could have been there, at the camps, missing. So we feel solidarity with those families." At Camp Mystic, Michael continued to comb through the mud-soaked surroundings. "I hope for a miracle. Absolutely," he said. Members of a search and rescue team look for survivors and victims of deadly flash flooding near Camp Mystic in central Texas AFP A damaged home is seen near Camp Mystic after deadly flash flooding in in central Texas AFP


Int'l Business Times
05-07-2025
- Int'l Business Times
'Kids Are Still Missing:' Authorities Desperately Seek Missing Girl Campers as Texas Floods Death Toll Rises to 27
Authorities are still searching for missing children from an all-girls summer camp in Texas after catastrophic flooding struck the south-central region on Friday. "Kids are still missing," Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha told an evening press conference on Friday. He added that between 23 and 25 people are still unaccounted for. As of Saturday, 27 fatalities have been recorded. The missing girls were attending Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls summer camp in Hunt that sits along the Guadalupe river. The girls' families have posted their photos on social media in a desperate attempt to locate their daughters. Two are the missing girls are Eloise Peck and Lila Bonner, both 9. 🚨 STILL MISSING – HUNT, TX 🚨Lila & Eloise's cabin (Bubble Inn) at Camp Mystic was swept away by historic flooding on the Guadalupe reports, not all campers are accounted for. These two girls are still missing. If you're in the area & see them, contact… — Leisha (@LoneStarChica) July 4, 2025 The catastrophic storm struck central Texas early Friday morning. It brought torrential downpours that amassed nearly a foot of rainwater, which caused the Guadalupe River to overflow and flood Texas' Hill Country region. The region is home to a number of century-old summer camps, which draw thousands of young Texans each year. On Friday night, Texas Governor Greg Abbott shared that he signed a disaster declaration. "Tonight, I signed a disaster declaration to ensure local officials have the resources to continue to respond to floods in the Hill Country. Texas will stop at nothing to ensure every missing person is fully accounted for," the Abbott wrote on X. Rescue operations are ongoing and 237 people have been saved thus far, according to state officials. Originally published on Latin Times © Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.


DW
24-06-2025
- DW
Syria: IS splinter group behind church bombing – DW – 06/24/2025
A little-known Islamist group has claimed responsibility for a Sunday bombing that killed 25 Christians and injured 63 more. It also disputes government arrest claims. On Tuesday, the Islamic State (IS) splinter group Saraya Ansar al-Sunna (Brigade of Sunni Supporters) claimed responsibility for the deadly Sunday bombing of a Greek Orthodox Church in the Syrian capital, Damascus. The incident happened when a member of the group blew himself up at the doors of the Saint Elias Church in the Christian-Sunni Muslim neighborhood of al-Dweilaa during Sunday mass, killing 25 people and injuring another 63. The group released a social media post claiming the attack was triggered by unspecified "provocations by Christians in Damascus." In March, a dispute took place at the church when residents complained about Islamic chants being blasted from a car in front of the building. The group is said to have been behind various sectarian threats and attacks targeting Alawites, Christians, Druze and Shiite Muslims. It is also accused of involvement in March massacres that rights groups say killed as many as 1,700 mostly Alawite civilians. On Monday, Syria's new government claimed that IS had been behind the attack and announced that it had "dismantled" the cell responsible for it. Authorities said they seized explosives, suicide vests, mines and ammunition during raids that resulted in six arrests and two suspects being shot dead. Syria's Interior Ministry said its investigation into the matter was ongoing and that all perpetrators would be brought to justice. Saraya Ansar al-Sunna promptly took to the messaging app Telegram to reject the government's claim, calling it, "untrue, fabricated." Saraya Ansar al-Sunna, which was formed after the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad, warned, "What is coming will not give you respite… our soldiers... are fully prepared." Sunday's attack was the first in a Christian church since the start of Syria's civil war in 2011, according to the UK-based group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has also been targeted by the group. Pope Leo XIV, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, expressed his deep sorrow over the incident on Tuesday. A statement issued by the Vatican called for peace in Syria. Further, the statement said Leo was praying for those injured, as well as for the souls of those killed in the attack. Prayers were also offered to God that he provide hope and healing for the Syrian people. Though 10% of Syria's population was once Christian, that number has dropped considerably as a result of war and persecution. Those Christians who remain tend to live in mixed communities in the major cities of Damascus and Aleppo. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video