Texas flood death toll hits 52, including 15 children; Families desperate as searches continue
Texas Flood Death Toll: A historic flash flood in Texas Hill Country has killed at least 52 people and left dozens more missing, including 27 girls from Camp Mystic. The floods swept away homes, camps and roads, catching many by surprise overnight as the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in under an hour. While more than 850 people have been rescued so far, families cling to hope as rescue teams push on. Questions linger about missed warnings and whether this tragedy could have been avoided. NYT News ServiceDebris left by the flooded Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas, on Saturday, July 5, 2025. Thunderstorms and moisture from the Gulf were among the ingredients that led to catastrophic weather and flooding in the Hill Country. (Jordan Vonderhaar/The New York Times) When the rain came, it wasnt gentle. It battered central Texas in the early hours of Friday, turning the Guadalupe River into a raging force that rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes. By Saturday night, the floods had killed at least 52 people, 15 of them children, and left rescuers combing through debris and mud for the missing.In Kerr County alone, 43 lives were lost. Many were campers at Camp Mystic, a Christian summer retreat that had stood along the river for nearly a century. Its here that 27 girls are still unaccounted for.The camp was completely destroyed, said Elinor Lester, 13, one of the survivors. A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.Texas floods death toll by county: latest numbersThe death toll from the flash floods that ripped through Texas Hill Country has climbed to 52, including 15 children. Search teams are still combing through debris and swollen rivers, with 27 girls from Camp Mystic still missing. Heres what we know so far about where victims were found:Kerr County: 44 confirmed dead. Most victims were swept away along the Guadalupe River near Hunt and Ingram, where floodwaters rose over 25 feet in under an hour.Travis County: 5 dead. Several cars were caught on flooded roads west of Austin.Burnet County: 2 dead. A father and daughter were found in a trailer near Lake Buchanan.Kendall County: 1 confirmed dead. A womans body was recovered near Comfort after her car was washed off a rural crossing.Live EventsThe missing and the waitingSearch teams have rescued more than 850 people so far some from trees, others from rooftops. But theres a grim sense that time is slipping away. Dalton Rice, Kerrville City Manager, said, Were tracking the known missing the 27 but there could be others. We simply dont know yet.At an elementary school acting as a reunification centre, families wait for news. Some cling to hope. Others brace for the worst.We still have people coming here looking for their loved ones. Weve had a little success, but not much, said Bobby Templeton, superintendent of Ingram Independent School District.A region known for dangerThis part of Texas has a nickname: flash flood alley. Its earned. The Hill Country is all rugged slopes and shallow soils that shed rain like a tin roof.When it rains, water doesnt soak into the soil, said Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. It rushes down the hill.In the past, officials had considered setting up a flood siren system along the river like the tornado sirens in the Midwest. We know we get rains. We know the river rises. But nobody saw this coming, said Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly. He admitted the plan for flood warnings never got off the ground, partly because of the cost.Frantic rescues, bitter questionsInside Camp Mystic, the chaos came fast. Some campers crossed bridges roped together in knee-high water. Others were lifted out by helicopter. An 8-year-old girl from Alabama was among the confirmed dead. Jane Ragsdale, co-owner of Heart O the Hills, another nearby camp, died in the flooding too.Governor Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster and urged Texans to pray. I urge every Texan to join me in prayer this Sunday 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.Yet theres anger too. AccuWeather claimed its warnings, along with alerts from the National Weather Service, should have given officials enough time to evacuate vulnerable camps. These warnings should have provided officials with ample time to evacuate camps such as Camp Mystic and get people to safety, the company said.Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem… Read more: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/global-trends/texas-flood-death-toll-families-desperate-as-number-reaches-52-27-girls-still-unaccounted-for-as-searches-continue/articleshow/122275260.cms Published at: 2025-07-06 03:18:07 Powered by The World News API (https://worldnewsapi.com/) Background music from WavelayersMusic #texas #flood #death #toll #hits #including #children #families #desperate #searches #shorts #news
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