Death toll from Texas floods rises to 50, including 15 children

SadaNews - The death toll from the devastating floods that swept through Central Texas has risen to 50 people, including 15 children, officials announced on Sunday, as rescue teams continue searching for more than 20 missing girls.

 

Kerr County is the most affected, with 43 fatalities reported, followed by Travis County with four deaths, while two people died in Burnet County and one in Tom Green County, according to figures compiled by Agence France-Presse from local officials.

Flood warnings remain in effect across Central Texas, where the Guadalupe River rose suddenly by eight meters within just 45 minutes, causing widespread destruction.

In Kerr County, chaos reigned at a summer camp hosting hundreds of girls, where mud covered blankets, toys, and personal belongings.

County Sheriff Larry Leitha stated in a press conference: "We recovered 43 bodies in Kerr County, including 28 adults and 15 children."

Meanwhile, Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd clarified that ground, air, and water rescue teams are continuing search operations along the Guadalupe River for survivors and the bodies of the deceased. He added: "We will continue searching until all the missing are found."

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that he would expand the disaster declaration in the state, noting that he would request additional federal resources from U.S. President Donald Trump to support relief efforts.

The floods began on Friday evening when the area received in just a few hours the amount of rain it usually gets over months, leading to flash floods.

The National Weather Service warned of new expected floods as rain continues to fall.

In Kerrville, the normally calm Guadalupe River appeared swift and filled with debris. One resident, Gerardo Martinez, 61, said: "The water rose above the level of the trees by about ten meters, sweeping away cars and entire houses."

Although floods of this kind are not unusual in the area due to the soil's poor ability to absorb rainwater, scientists warn that climate change resulting from human activity is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme phenomena like floods, droughts, and heatwaves.

Sheriff Leitha reported that 27 girls from the "Mystic" camp in Kerr County are still missing as of Saturday evening. He explained that the camp housed around 750 girls at the time of the disaster. U.S. media reported that four of these girls have been confirmed dead, according to their families.