Texas flood toll hits 50 as rescuers seek missing girls
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Torrential rains triggered deadly floods across Texas, killing 50 and leaving 27 girls missing at Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River.
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A Texas Department of Public Safety official combs through the banks of the Guadalupe River near Camp Mystic after a flash flood swept through the area Saturday, July 5, 2025, in Hunt, Texas (AP)
Torrential rains in Texas have caused devastating floods, killing at least 50 people, while on Saturday, rescue teams continued searching for 27 missing girls from a riverside summer camp affected by the disaster.
As water surged through communities in central Texas, multiple flash flood warnings remained in effect, with the Guadalupe River rising by 26 feet (eight meters) in just 45 minutes.
The Kerr County summer camp, which had been hosting hundreds of guests, was left in complete disarray as blankets, teddy bears, and other personal belongings were found strewn about and caked in thick layers of mud after the floodwaters receded.
Sheriff Larry Leitha of the flood-ravaged region reported, "We have recovered 43 deceased individuals in Kerr County. Among these who are deceased, we have 28 adults and 15 children," as multiple additional victims were discovered in surrounding counties, pushing the total death toll to 50
Floods reach the top of the trees
The devastating flooding began on Friday, coinciding with the start of the Fourth of July holiday weekend when several months' worth of rainfall poured down within just a few hours. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued warnings that additional rainfall was expected and cautioned that "excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations," creating potentially dangerous conditions across the affected regions.
"The water reached the top of the trees. About 10 meters or so," Gerardo Martinez, 61, told AFP. "Cars, whole houses were going down the river."
While flash floods are not uncommon, scientists warn that climate change is making extreme weather events like floods, droughts, and heatwaves more frequent and intense.
Tragedy at Camp Mystic
During a press briefing on Saturday, Sheriff Leitha revealed that search teams were still working to locate 27 missing children from Camp Mystic, which had been hosting about 750 girls along the Guadalupe River's banks before the devastating floods swept through Kerr County.
According to US media reports citing family members, four of the missing girls had tragically lost their lives in the disaster.
A distraught father named Michael, who shared only his first name with AFP, scoured the flood-ravaged camp in desperate search of his eight-year-old daughter, explaining that he had rushed from Austin upon hearing the news and now clung to hope for a "miracle" as rescue efforts continued.
The disaster's toll extended beyond Kerr County as Hector Nieto, public information office director, reported to AFP that four fatalities had been confirmed in Travis County to the northeast, while 13 individuals remained unaccounted for in the region.
Climate change, rising risks
While flash flooding is not uncommon in Texas, scientists have long warned that climate change is increasing both the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Warmer atmospheric conditions contribute to heavier rainfall and faster runoff, making regions like Kerr County increasingly vulnerable.
Last month, at least 10 people were killed in San Antonio following a similar flash flood event, underlining a growing pattern of climate-driven disasters across the state.
Elsewhere, severe weather continued to wreak havoc. In New Jersey, two people were killed after a tree collapsed onto their vehicle during a violent thunderstorm, according to local police.
