The tragic aftermath of the Texas floods continues to unfold, with at least 109 confirmed dead and more than 160 people still missing, according to state officials. The extreme weather, which struck during the Fourth of July weekend, caused flash floods across central Texas, catching thousands off guard- including children at a summer camp.
Governor Greg Abbott confirmed the rising death toll on Tuesday, noting that 161 people remain unaccounted for in Kerr County alone. The list, he added, is expected to grow as search and rescue teams comb through debris under increasingly dangerous conditions.
Kerr County has suffered the greatest loss, with 87 confirmed fatalities, including 30 children. One of the most harrowing incidents occurred at Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ summer camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River. Of the 750 people present, 27 children and adult supervisors went missing when the floodwaters surged. As of Tuesday night, five campers and one staff member were still unaccounted for.
The flood struck with little warning. Rainfall peaked at 300 mm per hour, swelling the river by eight metres in just 45 minutes. While emergency alerts were sent around 1:00am, many residents were asleep or had disabled their phones. The speed and intensity of the floods left little time to respond.
In neighbouring New Mexico, flash flood warnings were also issued, and the town of Ruidoso saw six-metre river surges that damaged homes and stranded residents.
Despite continued efforts involving helicopters, drones, and trained dogs, search crews report increasingly hazardous conditions. “Penetrating the wreckage is extremely dangerous,” said officer Ben Baker. “It’s always hard to see loss of life, but when it’s children, it’s unbearable.”
So far, 850 people have been rescued, but authorities now fear the chances of finding more survivors are dwindling. “To my knowledge, the last rescue happened Friday- the day of the disaster,” said Kerrville police officer Jonathan Lamm.
US President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Texas on Friday alongside First Lady Melania Trump. “We sent helicopters quickly, a lot of them,” he told reporters. “The response has been incredible.”
As the rescue efforts continue, debate has sparked over whether budget cuts to the National Weather Service impacted the accuracy or speed of flood alerts. The White House has strongly denied this, with spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stating forecasts were “accurate and timely.”
Meanwhile, climate experts stress that events like the Texas floods are becoming more frequent and intense due to human-driven climate change. Meteorologist Sel Winkley noted that the region is experiencing both extremes- worsening droughts and more violent storms- creating the perfect conditions for flash flooding.
In the small community of Hunt, ground zero of the disaster, crews continue to search the mud and debris. As families wait anxiously for news, the scale of the tragedy deepens.
Also read: Texas flood tragedy leaves over 100 people dead
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