Texas flash flood disaster: At least 51 dead, 27 girls missing as rescue efforts intensify

Texas: Rescue teams are racing against time to locate 27 missing girls from a summer camp in Texas, as the death toll from catastrophic flooding in the state climbed to 43, according to officials.

“We have recovered 43 deceased individuals in Kerr County, including 28 adults and 15 children,” said Sheriff Larry Leitha, who also confirmed the evacuation of around 850 people and eight injuries.

The missing children were attending Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ summer camp located on the banks of the Guadalupe River. Media reports confirmed that four of the missing girls are feared dead, as cited by their families.

The camp was devastated by flash floods after the river surged by 26 feet in just 45 minutes following hours of torrential rain late Friday night.

"The camp was completely destroyed," said Elinor Lester, 13. “A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.”

The flooding, described as "catastrophic", struck as the Fourth of July holiday weekend began. Families were caught off-guard, many asleep when the storm hit.

Rescue crews tied ropes for campers to cross a flooded bridge. At least one girl, aged eight from Alabama, and the director of a nearby camp, Heart O' The Hills, were among the confirmed dead. 

The usually tranquil Guadalupe River turned violent, with cars and entire homes swept away. "The water reached the top of the trees," said Gerardo Martinez, 61. “About 10 meters or so.”

In nearby Ingram, residents described terrifying escapes. One mother clung to a tree with her teenage son for an hour. Another family sheltered in an attic, including a 94-year-old grandmother and a 9-year-old child.

More than 850 people have been rescued in the last 36 hours, according to officials. Rescue teams, helicopters, and Coast Guard aircraft continued to scour the flooded region, including using drones and infrared to operate in darkness.

"We will continue the search until all those who are missing are found,” said Texas Emergency Management chief Nim Kidd.

Governor Greg Abbott has expanded the state’s disaster declaration and requested additional federal aid from President Donald Trump.

At a press conference, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Trump was prioritizing the upgrade of outdated systems at the National Weather Service (NWS) and NOAA, agencies that have faced funding cuts in recent years.

When asked about the lack of warning, Noem said she would “carry those concerns back to the federal government.”

While officials have said they were caught off-guard, AccuWeather and the NWS stated they issued flash flood warnings hours in advance, suggesting more could have been done to evacuate vulnerable areas.

US Rep. Chip Roy called the flood a “once-in-a-century event” and acknowledged that finger-pointing would follow. 

“This is unlike anything we’ve seen before,” said Soila Reyna, a local resident helping flood victims at a nearby church. “It’s catastrophic... involving children, families, homes—it’s just crazy.”

Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said the county once considered installing a river flood warning system but dropped the idea due to cost.

“The rescue has gone as well as can be expected,” Kelly said. “It’s getting time now for the recovery. And that’s going to be a long, toilsome task for us.”