Rescue teams in Texas continued their frantic search on Saturday for more than 20 girls who went missing from a riverside summer camp after relentless rains triggered severe flooding that has already claimed at least 24 lives.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed the rising death toll during a press briefing late Friday, as emergency crews worked to reach residents trapped by floodwaters across the south-central part of the state.
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick noted earlier that among the victims were several children, deepening the tragedy’s impact.
Meanwhile, the National Weather Service issued fresh warnings on Saturday, cautioning that the region northwest of San Antonio could expect further intense rainfall and potentially catastrophic flash flooding in the days ahead.
“Flash flooding is already occurring,” the NWS said in an alert, calling on residents to move to higher ground, and to “act quickly to protect your life.”
In Kerrville on Saturday, the usually calm Guadalupe River was flowing fast, its murky waters filled with debris.
“It rained in a day what it usually rains in a year,” said local resident Gerardo Martinez, 61.
“The water reached the top of the trees. About ten meters or so,” he added. “Cars, whole houses were going down the river. That was pretty bad.”
Friday saw a massive rescue operation launched, with around 500 personnel and 14 helicopters helping in the search for survivors.
Texas military official Major General Thomas Suelzer told reporters at least 237 people had been rescued or evacuated by emergency personnel, with 167 rescues performed using helicopters.
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On Friday evening, the county sheriff said as many as 25 children from the Camp Mystic Christian summer camp in the flooded Kerr County were missing.
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick estimated that around 23 children remained unaccounted for following the devastating floods.
By Saturday, US media reported that two of the missing girls had been confirmed dead, according to statements from their families.
Heart O’ The Hills summer camp, located near Camp Mystic, also confirmed the loss of its director, Jane Ragsdale, who was among those killed by the rising floodwaters.
Both camps, situated along the Guadalupe River, had been hosting roughly 750 children when the river swelled by an astonishing 26 feet within just 45 minutes due to the intense overnight rainfall.
Patrick explained that while many children were still listed as missing, it was possible some had taken refuge in trees or were simply out of communication range as rescue efforts continued.
In response to the disaster, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a declaration to release additional emergency resources to the affected counties, while President Donald Trump pledged federal assistance to support rescue and relief operations. Vice President JD Vance described the catastrophe as an unimaginable tragedy, reflecting the scale of loss and devastation faced by the region.