Texas flash floods kill over 100 as rescue efforts continue
| 2025-07-08
Officials ride a boat as they assist with a recovery effort at Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River after a flash flood swept through the area in Hunt, Texas. Photograph
More than 100 people have died in Texas after severe flash floods hit Kerr County and other regions, with dozens still missing as further rainfall threatens rescue operations.
At least 104 people have died and dozens remain missing after sudden flash floods swept through central Texas, inundating riverside communities and a historic girls’ summer camp. Officials have warned that the death toll is expected to rise as search teams continue to recover victims.
The flooding began before dawn on Friday when torrential rain caused the Guadalupe River to surge by more than eight metres within 45 minutes. Many of the fatalities occurred in Kerr County, where Camp Mystic, a nearly century-old Christian camp, was severely damaged. According to local officials, at least 27 children and staff from the camp are confirmed dead.
Rescue teams are working in difficult conditions, contending with hazardous debris and venomous snakes as they comb mud-covered landscapes. Authorities have said more rain is forecast until Tuesday, raising concerns about additional flooding in an already saturated region.
Governor Greg Abbott of Texas pledged that emergency services would do everything possible to account for the missing. “It was nothing short of horrific to see what those young children went through,” he said after visiting the disaster area on Sunday.
Camp Mystic, located on the banks of the Guadalupe River, has been a summer destination for generations, including the children of prominent political figures. In a statement, camp officials described the tragedy as “unimaginable” and asked for privacy as families mourned. Former United States First Lady Laura Bush had once served as a camp counsellor there, and past attendees have included the daughters of former President Lyndon B Johnson.
The flooding struck during the early hours of the Fourth of July holiday weekend, when many families were camping in the Texas Hill Country, a region west of Austin known for rivers and outdoor recreation. As of Monday afternoon, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha reported that at least 68 victims had been located within the county alone. Additional fatalities were confirmed in Travis, Burnet, Williamson, Kendall and Tom Green counties.
Some residents managed to survive through acts of extraordinary neighbourly support. Reagan Brown, speaking to the Associated Press, said his elderly parents escaped rising water by climbing to higher ground. They later returned to rescue a 92-year-old neighbour trapped in her attic.
“I’ve never seen something like this before,” said a local volunteer, who had been gathering clothes and supplies for the displaced since the flooding began.
In Washington, President Donald Trump signed a disaster declaration on Sunday to release federal aid to the affected counties. Speaking from New Jersey, he described the disaster as “horrible” and indicated he would likely visit Texas by the end of the week.
Local authorities have faced questions over whether enough was done to warn residents ahead of the rapidly rising water. Judge Rob Kelly, the top elected official in Kerr County, said no one anticipated the scale of the flooding. “Nobody saw this coming,” he told reporters. A proposal for a siren system had been rejected in the past due to cost concerns.
Chip Roy, the Republican US representative for the region, said he understood the frustration and grief of residents. “There’s a lot of people saying ‘why’ and ‘how’, and I understand that,” he said.
In a video widely shared on social media, young evacuees from Camp Mystic could be seen singing hymns as they crossed a bridge over the still-swollen river. Other survivors described finding personal belongings and camp furniture scattered miles downstream.
Pope Leo XIV, speaking during a service in Rome, offered prayers for the victims and their families. “We pray for them,” he said, expressing condolences to those who had lost loved ones.
The US Department of Homeland Security defended the government’s response, saying the National Weather Service had issued timely warnings before the floods struck. However, as recovery operations shift focus from rescue to identification of the dead, questions about preparedness and response are likely to continue.
Context
Flash flooding is a recurring hazard in Texas, which experiences extreme weather ranging from hurricanes on the Gulf Coast to severe thunderstorms inland. The Hill Country is particularly vulnerable because of its limestone terrain, which can cause rainfall to run off rapidly into rivers and creeks. Officials have warned that climate change is likely to increase the frequency of intense rain events in the region.
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