Texas( The COW News Digital)A devastating flood in central Texas has left at least 80 people dead, including 21 children, and 27 girls are still missing after a summer camp was swept away in Kerr County, according to the Associated Press.
The unprecedented floods hit central regions of Texas over the weekend, uprooting trees, sweeping away vehicles, and leaving behind widespread destruction. In the most severely hit area, Kerr County, the majority of fatalities occurred in mountainous terrain. Additional deaths were reported in Travis, Burnet, and Kendall counties.
Authorities are particularly concerned about a Christian summer camp located near the banks of the Guadalupe River in Kerr County. A total of 41 individuals, including 27 girls, have been reported missing after floodwaters destroyed the campgrounds. Officials have yet to confirm how the children and camp staff went missing, but some bodies have already been recovered from the surrounding area.
The flooding began on Friday afternoon and intensified rapidly. According to weather officials, the water level in the Guadalupe River surged over 8 meters (26 feet) in just 45 minutes, sweeping away entire homes, buildings, and cars in its path.
Emergency services have launched a large-scale rescue and recovery operation, utilizing helicopters, boats, and drones to reach survivors who are believed to be trapped in trees or stranded in remote areas due to washed-out roads. The continuous rainfall further complicates the rescue efforts and has prompted fresh evacuation orders.
By Saturday evening, hundreds of displaced residents sought shelter near San Antonio, with officials warning that rain and flash flood threats remain active across several counties.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott expressed deep concern over the scale of the tragedy and urged rescue teams to accelerate their search operations. He has also declared Sunday as a day of prayer for the victims and missing persons.
The disaster marks one of the deadliest flood events in recent Texas history. Emergency agencies continue to work around the clock in hope of finding survivors, while federal support has been requested to bolster the search and recovery efforts.
