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Heavy overnight rainfall caused the Guadalupe River to rise nearly 26 feet in less than an hour, overwhelming low-lying areas in Kerr County
Texas flood: Rescue operations underway | Image: AP
Severe flash floods swept through Texas Hill Country late Friday night, leaving at least 24 people dead and dozens missing, including girls at a summer camp near the Guadalupe River, officials said.
Heavy overnight rainfall caused the Guadalupe River to rise nearly 26 feet in less than an hour, overwhelming low-lying areas in Kerr County. Local authorities and state officials described the event as sudden and “catastrophic.”
“Some are adults, some are children,” said Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick during a press briefing on Friday. “Again, we don’t know where those bodies came from.”
Among those missing are at least 23 girls attending Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp located along the river.
The camp had more than 700 children on-site when the flooding began. Patrick said some of the missing might have found refuge nearby but remained out of contact.
“They could be in a tree, they could be out of communication,” he added.
Kerr County officials confirmed the death toll at 24. Local authorities said many areas were caught off guard due to a lack of a regional flood alert system.
“We do not have a warning system,” said Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly. “We didn’t know this flood was coming.”
Rescue Ops Underway
The flooding displaced dozens of residents and caused significant damage across the area.
Emergency crews, including more than 400 responders, 14 helicopters, boats, and drones, have been deployed to assist in rescue efforts.
Teams from the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Houston Fire Department, and federal agencies, including FEMA, are also part of the ongoing operation.
Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration and urged the public to avoid flooded roads and comply with emergency guidance.
“Texas is providing all necessary resources to Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt, and the entire Texas Hill Country,” Abbott said in a statement.
Meteorologists say the flooding was caused by a slow-moving storm system fueled by tropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.
The area received up to a foot of rain in some locations, leading to flash flooding in multiple communities, including Comfort and Hunt.
While waters have begun to recede in some parts of the region, flash flood warnings remain in effect.
Officials warned of the possibility of additional rainfall through Saturday.
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