Rescue efforts are ongoing in south-central Texas after torrential rains caused devastating flash floods that have killed at least 24 people and left around 20 girls missing from a riverside summer camp.
According to the AFP, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed the death toll late Friday, noting that search and rescue operations are still underway, especially in the area northwest of San Antonio, where many remain stranded or unaccounted for.
Among those missing are at least 20 girls who were attending Camp Mystic, a summer program situated along the Guadalupe River. The river surged by over 26 feet in just 45 minutes due to heavy overnight rainfall.
“There are still kids missing,” Sheriff Leitha said during a press briefing. “We’re doing everything in our power to find them.”
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick also confirmed the tragedy, stating, “Some of the victims are children. Our hearts are heavy, and our focus remains on rescue and recovery.”
The missing children were part of a group of approximately 750 campers. Patrick emphasized that the girls may not necessarily be lost: “They could be in trees, in shelters, or simply out of communication. We remain hopeful.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster to mobilize resources and personnel, while U.S. President Donald Trump called the situation “terrible” and pledged federal assistance. “We’ll take care of it,” Trump assured reporters. “We’re working closely with the governor.”
Rescue teams—including 500 personnel and 14 helicopters—have so far saved at least 237 individuals, with 167 of them rescued via aerial operations, according to Major General Thomas Suelzer of the Texas Military Department.
Freeman Martin, head of the Texas Department of Public Safety, described the disaster as a “mass casualty event.”
He noted, “We had trouble accessing the area in the morning due to severe weather, but as conditions improved, so did our rescue operations.”
Governor Abbott shared dramatic footage on social media showing rescuers airlifting a flood victim from a tree.
“These missions are ongoing around the clock,” he said. “We will not stop until every person is accounted for.”
Authorities warned residents to avoid traveling in the affected counties. Dozens of roads remain submerged or blocked, and more flooding is anticipated.
“This isn’t over,” Martin warned. “We expect another wave to hit other counties soon.”
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly admitted that officials were caught off guard.
“We didn’t know this flood was coming,” he said. “We deal with floods often, but this is unlike anything we’ve seen. The Guadalupe River is the most dangerous river valley in the country.”
Weather experts explained that flash floods like this happen when the ground becomes saturated too quickly for water to be absorbed, often due to extreme rainfall. In this case, the area received nearly 12 inches of rain overnight—about a third of its annual average.
Climate scientists warn that human-induced climate change is fueling an increase in such extreme weather events, including floods, droughts, and heatwaves.
