A powerful flash flood has killed at least 51 people in central Texas, with 27 girls still missing after water swept through a popular summer camp overnight.
Many families are still searching for loved ones as rescuers continue combing the debris-filled Guadalupe River in Kerr County.
Officials say 43 of the deaths happened in Kerr County alone, including 15 children. Another eight people were confirmed dead in surrounding areas. The missing girls were attending Camp Mystic, a Christian camp located near the river. Rescue crews using boats, helicopters, and drones are still searching the area.
“The camp was completely destroyed,” said 13-year-old Elinor Lester, one of the survivors. “A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.”
The flood began before sunrise on Friday, after nearly 12 inches of rain fell within a short time. The river rose over 26 feet in just 45 minutes, sweeping away homes, cars, and entire buildings while most people were still asleep.
Governor Greg Abbott declared Sunday a day of prayer and said search efforts would continue across the region. “I urge every Texan to join me in prayer,” he said. “For the lives lost, for those still missing, and for those on the front lines.”
Rescuers say more than 850 people have already been saved in the last two days. Officials said some children were rescued while holding ropes across flooded bridges, while others clung to trees or hid in attics until help arrived.
In Ingram, a nearby town, Erin Burgess said she and her son floated to a tree where they hung on for an hour until help came. “My boyfriend and our dog floated away, but we later found them,” she said.
Barry Adelman said the water filled his home so fast that his entire family, including a 94-year-old grandmother and a nine-year-old boy, had to escape into the attic.
“We know the river rises,” said Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly. “But nobody saw this coming.”
Emergency teams are still unsure how many people are missing. The storm hit during the July 4th holiday weekend, a time when the area is usually crowded with visitors.
Some local leaders and weather experts say better warning systems could have helped. AccuWeather said both they and the National Weather Service had sent out alerts several hours earlier, but the strength of the storm still caught many off guard.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other federal officials are now in the area to support rescue and recovery operations. “We will use all available resources,” she said.
Families continue to wait at reunification centers, while others search social media, hoping for news of their missing children. The search continues.
AP
