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Deadly floods kill 24, rescuers search for missing children

Published by Tope Fakinlede on July 5th, 2025.

Deadly floods kill 24, rescuers search for missing children

Rescue teams are urgently searching for more than 20 girls reported missing after a severe flash flood struck a summer camp along a river in south-central Texas. The sudden flooding, triggered by intense overnight rainfall, has resulted in at least 24 fatalities, officials confirmed Friday.

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha updated reporters during a press briefing, stating, “We are currently reporting around 24 deaths,” as emergency personnel worked to find those still trapped or unaccounted for in the area northwest of San Antonio.

Among the victims are children, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick confirmed in an earlier update. Authorities indicated that between 23 and 25 individuals remain missing, many believed to be campers.

The missing girls were attendees of Camp Mystic, a girls’ summer camp located beside the Guadalupe River, which surged dramatically by approximately 26 feet (8 meters) in just 45 minutes due to the heavy rains. The camp hosts roughly 750 children, many of whom were forced to seek refuge in trees or other high ground.

Patrick emphasized, “The fact that they’re missing doesn’t necessarily mean they’re gone—they could be stranded without communication.”

Governor Greg Abbott announced he would declare a state of disaster to mobilize additional resources for the affected counties. President Donald Trump expressed his condolences and assured support, saying, “We’re coordinating with the governor and will provide federal assistance.”

Ongoing Rescue Operations

Around 500 rescue workers, supported by 14 helicopters, are actively involved in searching for survivors. Texas National Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard have joined the efforts.

Major General Thomas Suelzer reported that over 230 people had been rescued or evacuated so far, with helicopter crews conducting 167 airlifts. Freeman Martin, the state’s public safety director, noted that poor weather conditions initially hampered rescue attempts, but operations improved throughout the day.

Social media footage revealed the destructive power of the floodwaters—homes and trees were swept away in torrents fed by nearly a foot of rain, which accounts for about one-third of Kerr County’s average yearly rainfall.

Governor Abbott shared dramatic footage of a rescue where a victim was lifted from a tree by a helicopter, underscoring the urgency of the mission. “These air rescues continue nonstop. We won’t stop until everyone is found,” he pledged.

Officials warned residents to avoid the area, as many roads leading to campgrounds and riverfront communities are blocked or unsafe.

Warnings of More Flooding

Martin cautioned that additional flooding could affect other parts of Texas, warning that “this disaster is far from over.”

Local authorities expressed surprise at the severity of the flood, with Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly saying, “This flood caught us off guard. We experience flooding regularly, but this was unprecedented.”

He described the Guadalupe River valley as “the most dangerous in the country” and urged residents near the river to seek higher ground.

While flash floods are common during heavy storms, experts point to climate change as a factor intensifying the frequency and severity of such extreme weather events.

This recent tragedy follows a deadly flash flood in San Antonio earlier in June that claimed 10 lives.

Meanwhile, severe weather has also struck other parts of the U.S., with two fatalities reported in New Jersey after a storm caused a tree to fall on a vehicle.