At least 43 people, including 15 children, have died in devastating flash floods in central Texas, authorities confirmed Saturday. Rescuers are still searching for dozens of missing individuals, including campers and tourists, as hopes for survival begin to fade. Officials said the toll could rise as more areas report damage and casualties.
The sudden floods struck Friday morning after a powerful storm dumped up to 15 inches of rain around the Guadalupe River, about 85 miles northwest of San Antonio. Emergency teams rescued over 850 people, some clinging to trees as waters surged to 29 feet. Officials described the flooding as faster and deadlier than anyone had predicted.
Among the missing are 27 girls from Camp Mystic, a century-old Christian summer camp, according to Kerrville city manager Dalton Rice. Authorities fear there may be more missing individuals, but they have not released a full count due to uncertainty. “We just don’t know how many were here,” said Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick.
Kerr County officials said 17 of the victims, including five children, have yet to be identified. In Comfort, a town downstream, massive trees were uprooted, roads were blocked, and small bridges were washed out. The damage has made rescue efforts even more difficult, especially in remote or rural areas of the Texas Hill Country.
The U.S. National Weather Service declared the flash flood emergency mostly over for Kerr County, though a flood watch remains in place for surrounding areas. Local officials stressed that the region, known for its rugged terrain and summer tourism, had not seen anything like this in recent memory.
Despite the tragic loss, emergency teams are continuing to search through debris and destroyed structures. “This is not just a weather disaster; this is a human one,” said Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly. Recovery and identification efforts are expected to continue into next week.