Desperate search continues as Texas flood kills 51, including 15 children

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - TEXAS — Rescue crews scoured the devastated Hill Country region of central Texas on Saturday in a race against time to find survivors of a catastrophic flash flood that has claimed at least 51 lives — including 15 children — and left 27 girls missing from a summer camp swept away in the darkness.

The flooding, triggered by torrential rainfall before dawn on Friday, caused the Guadalupe River in Kerr County to rise a staggering 26 feet (8 meters) in just 45 minutes.

The deluge inundated homes, tore through youth camps, and overturned vehicles, leaving behind a wreckage of twisted trees, waterlogged debris, and traumatized survivors.

At Camp Mystic, a century-old Christian girls’ summer camp nestled along the riverbank, nearly all structures were destroyed. Rescuers using helicopters, drones, and boats continued combing the area for 27 girls still unaccounted for. Frantic families gathered at reunification centers, clinging to hope and sharing photos of their missing children.

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

Most of the deaths were reported in Kerr County, where 43 bodies have been recovered. At least eight more fatalities were reported in neighboring counties. The overall number of missing remains unclear as officials grapple with the chaos and heavy tourist presence for the July Fourth holiday weekend.

Governor Greg Abbott declared Sunday a day of prayer across Texas and vowed continuous search-and-rescue efforts. “I urge every Texan to join me in prayer — for the lives lost, for those still missing, for the recovery of our communities, and for the safety of those on the front lines,” he said.

Search teams faced grueling conditions, navigating submerged terrain and uprooted trees while rescuing over 850 people in 36 hours. Coast Guard helicopters, Homeland Security aircraft, and first responders from across the region assisted in the effort. Authorities confirmed heroic efforts at multiple camps helped save hundreds of children.

Questions have begun to surface about whether sufficient warnings were issued. AccuWeather and the National Weather Service said they had alerted officials hours before the flooding, predicting flash flood potential.

“These warnings should have provided officials with ample time to evacuate camps such as Camp Mystic and get people to safety,” AccuWeather said in a statement, pointing to the area’s notorious vulnerability to sudden flooding due to its thin soil and hilly terrain — often referred to as “flash flood alley.”

At nearby Mo-Ranch Camp, staff moved hundreds of attendees to higher ground before the flooding began. But in many areas, including Mystic, the water arrived too quickly to fully evacuate.

Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said officials had not even begun to estimate how many people were still missing. “We’re looking in every possible location,” he said.

Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county’s chief elected official, said the scale of the disaster was unimaginable. “We know we get rains. We know the river rises. But nobody saw this coming.”

The county previously considered installing a flood warning siren system but never moved forward due to cost concerns. “It’s getting time now for the recovery,” Kelly said. “And that’s going to be a long, toilsome task for us.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who arrived on Saturday, pledged federal support. “The rescue has gone as well as can be expected,” she said. “Now we must prepare for what comes next.”

Erin Burgess of Ingram said she clung to a tree with her teenage son after their house was flooded within 20 minutes of the first rainfall. “My boyfriend and my dog floated away,” she said tearfully. “He was lost for a while, but we found them.”

Barry Adelman described how water forced his entire family — including a 94-year-old grandmother and 9-year-old grandson — into the attic of their three-story home. “I had to look at my grandson and tell him everything would be OK, but inside, I was scared to death.”

The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country has begun collecting donations to support recovery efforts. “When it rains here, it doesn’t soak into the soil — it rushes down the hill,” said CEO Austin Dickson. “That’s why this is one of the most dangerous flood zones in the country.”

As rains continue and flash flood warnings remain in effect, residents across the region are bracing for further devastation.

“It’s a once-in-a-century flood,” said U.S. Rep. Chip Roy. “We’ll ask questions and learn lessons, but for now, we grieve — and we search.” — Agencies