How Many Lives Were Lost in the Texas Flooding?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 13 fatalities confirmed due to flooding.
- Over 20 children reported missing from summer camps.
- Active search operations involving 500+ personnel and aerial support.
- Flash flood warnings issued for over half a million residents.
- Governor Abbott emphasizes that saving lives is the top priority.
Houston, July 5 (NationPress) Tragically, at least 13 individuals have lost their lives, and more than 20 children from summer camps near the Guadalupe River are currently unaccounted for due to significant flash flooding triggered by heavy overnight rain in central Texas, according to updates from authorities.
Currently, there are approximately 23 children missing from Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp for girls that serves around 750 children, as reported by Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick during a press briefing on Friday.
Patrick indicated that over 14 helicopters, 12 drones, and more than 500 personnel are actively searching in the vicinity of the camp, with several adults and children having been rescued from nearby trees.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha reported at a press conference that the severe flooding has already claimed at least 13 lives in the county, with several individuals still unaccounted for.
Leitha expressed concern that more fatalities might be confirmed in the county.
“We are still actively trying to locate those who are missing and those who require assistance,” stated Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice.
At approximately 4 a.m. local time (0900 GMT), the National Weather Service escalated its flash flood warning, which facilitates the transmission of wireless emergency alerts to cell phones for local residents and campers along the river, as reported by NBC News.
The agency also cautioned that a large and dangerous flood wave was advancing down the Guadalupe River.
The Guadalupe River in Kerr County surged from 7.5 feet (about 2.3 meters) to nearly 30 feet overnight and is anticipated to peak at 34 feet in Spring Branch on Friday afternoon, according to the service.
Online videos depicted vehicles, campers, and mobile homes being swept away as the Guadalupe River's section surged in the county.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott stated on X that the state is mobilizing all available resources to address the flooding crisis. “The immediate priority is to save lives,” the governor emphasized.
As of Friday afternoon, over half a million people in central Texas were under flash flood warnings.