Rescue teams fanned out along the swollen Guadalupe River in central Texas on Saturday morning, searching for over two dozen missing campers and residents swept away by powerful flash floods. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed that at least 27 people, including nine children, have died. The exact number of those still unaccounted for remains unknown.
The flooding, triggered by torrential rains late Thursday night, caused the Guadalupe River to rise by more than 26 feet in just 90 minutes. The sudden deluge washed away homes and devastated Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ summer retreat hosting over 750 girls aged 7 to 17 over the Fourth of July weekend.
Located along the riverbanks in Kerr County, Camp Mystic was engulfed by the surging waters before full evacuations could be completed. Although many campers were rescued in time, authorities report several remain unaccounted for. Due to disrupted communication lines, officials caution that the number of missing may fluctuate.
President Donald Trump on Texas flood
President Donald Trump addressed the tragedy on Saturday, stating that his administration is coordinating with state and local authorities. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is en route to Texas to support relief efforts. “Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy. Our brave first responders are on site doing what they do best,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick urged calm and asked parents not to panic if they haven’t heard from their children. “If your child is missing, it does not necessarily mean they are lost — they may simply be out of communication range,” a BBC report quoted him as saying.
Rescue teams continue their search amid difficult terrain and rising fears, as families wait anxiously for updates.