At least 43 people, including 15 children, have been confirmed dead after flash floods in central Texas, authorities said on Saturday as rescuers continued their search for campers and residents who were still missing.
More than 850 people had been rescued, including those clinging to trees, after a sudden storm dumped up to 15 inches of rain in an area around the Guadalupe River, about 85 miles northwest of San Antonio. The disaster unfolded rapidly on Friday morning with little or no warning, precluding authorities from issuing advance evacuation orders.
Among those missing were 27 girls from Camp Mystic summer camp, Kerrville city manager Dalton Rice said at a press conference on Saturday evening. Officials also confirmed that eight of the confirmed dead had yet to be identified.
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said an unknown number of visitors had come to the area for an Independence Day celebration by the river, with some in tents or small trailers along the banks. Camp Mystic had 700 girls in residence at the time of the flood.
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said President Donald Trump would sign a disaster declaration, which would unlock federal aid for those affected. The Trump administration has previously outlined plans to scale back the federal government’s role in responding to natural disasters, leaving states to shoulder more of the burden themselves.
Former NOAA director Rick Spinrad said staff cuts at the National Weather Service would degrade the agency’s ability to deliver accurate and timely forecasts, potentially compromising people’s ability to prepare for storms.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/central-texas-flood-waters-recede-rescuers-continue-search-victims-2025-07-05