Texas Floods: 27 Dead, 27 Girls Missing from Camp Mystic

At least 27 people have died, and 27 girls attending Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp, are missing after torrential rain caused flash floods along the Guadalupe River in Texas on Friday.

Chloe Crane, a teacher and former Camp Mystic counselor, shared her heartbreak upon receiving an email from the camp regarding the missing girls.

The flooding, described as "catastrophic" by the Kerr County Sheriff's office, resulted from a month's worth of rain falling in just hours. The Guadalupe River rose 26 feet (7.9m) in under an hour, sweeping away mobile homes, vehicles, and holiday cabins.

Rescue Efforts Underway

Rescue teams are actively searching for the missing individuals from Camp Mystic, located 104km (64 miles) northwest of San Antonio. As of Friday night, emergency personnel had rescued or evacuated 237 people, with 167 rescued by helicopter. The Texas Division of Emergency Management deployed 14 helicopters, hundreds of emergency workers, and drones in the search and rescue operation.

Impact and Response

A state of emergency has been declared in several counties. US President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters, stated that federal aid would be provided. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly expressed surprise at the scale of the disaster, stating that it was unforeseen.

More rain is predicted, raising concerns of further flooding downriver from Kerr County and around Waco.

Camp Mystic and the Missing Girls

Up to 25 people are missing from Camp Mystic, adding to the tragic toll of the Texas floods. The focus on finding the missing girls from the Christian summer camp underscores the devastating impact of the disaster.

The situation highlights the urgent need for continued rescue and recovery efforts in the affected areas.