Texas Floods: Death Toll Rises, Dozens Missing from Camp Mystic

At least 24 people have died, and up to 25 are missing after torrential rain caused flash floods along the Guadalupe River in Texas on Friday. The flooding has devastated Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp just outside Kerrville, 104km (64 miles) north-west of San Antonio.

Chloe Crane, a teacher and former Camp Mystic counselor, expressed heartbreak upon learning of the missing girls from a camp email.

Camp Mystic and the Rescue Efforts

Rescue teams are working tirelessly to locate those missing from Camp Mystic. As of Friday night, emergency personnel had rescued or evacuated 237 people, including 167 by helicopter. The Texas Division of Emergency Management deployed 14 helicopters, hundreds of emergency workers, and drones in the search-and-rescue operation.

Scale of the Disaster

A month's worth of rain fell in a matter of hours, causing the river to rise 26 feet (7.9m) in under an hour. This "catastrophic flooding," as described by the Kerr County sheriff's office, swept away mobile homes, vehicles, and holiday cabins.

A state of emergency has been declared in several counties. US President Donald Trump pledged federal aid, stating, "We’ll take care of them."

Official Response and Future Concerns

Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly described the disaster as unforeseen, emphasizing the lack of prior indication of such severity. Further rain is expected in the state, particularly around Waco, with anticipated downstream flooding from Kerr County.

The ongoing search and rescue efforts continue, with the focus remaining on finding the missing individuals and assisting those affected by the devastating floods.