At least 24 girls died while many others went missing in flash floods that occurred at a Christian summer camp on Friday, 4 July.
Gatekeepers News reports that the floods struck with little warning as the Guadalupe River surged by 26 feet (7.9 meters) in under an hour, sweeping away mobile homes, cars, and holiday cabins during the country’s Independence Day celebrations.
Among those affected are attendees of Camp Mystic, located just outside Kerrville, about 64 miles (104 km) northwest of San Antonio.
Rescue teams are currently searching for up to 25 children who were among the 750 girls enrolled at the camp.
A state of emergency has been declared in multiple counties, with roads destroyed and communication lines down.
Authorities have deployed helicopters, drones, and boats to aid in the search, which is expected to continue until all individuals are accounted for.
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick described the flood as sudden and destructive, noting how quickly the river surged.
He reassured parents that children who hadn’t been contacted were likely safe but unreachable due to power and network outages.
The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office has urged residents near the river and surrounding creeks to evacuate to higher ground. Disaster declarations have also been issued for the Hill Country and Concho Valley regions.
