CENTRAL TEXAS – A catastrophic flash flood tore through central Texas early Friday, leaving a trail of devastation that has claimed at least 81 lives and sparked a desperate, large-scale search for an unknown number of missing people, including dozens of children from a summer camp engulfed by the torrent.
The disaster unfolded with terrifying speed as the Guadalupe River, engorged by torrential rains, surged an unprecedented 26 feet in just 45 minutes, creating a wall of water that obliterated homes, swept away vehicles, and caught entire communities by surprise in the pre-dawn hours.
The scale of the disaster has been described as an “incomprehensible tragedy” by the Vice President, and President Donald Trump has signed a major disaster declaration for the region to expedite federal aid.
Rescue efforts have been relentless, with first responders pulling more than 850 people from the floodwaters, some found clinging to trees for hours, awaiting help. However, the joy of these rescues has been overshadowed by a mounting death toll and the heart-wrenching search for the missing.
At the center of the tragedy is Camp Mystic, a girls’ summer camp located directly in the flood’s path. Authorities have confirmed that at least 27 girls from the camp remain unaccounted for, and a grim report indicates that 14 children are among the deceased. The news has left families in agonizing suspense as they await any word on their loved ones.
As the floodwaters begin to recede, they reveal a landscape of utter destruction. Videos and photos from the affected areas show homes ripped from their foundations and cars piled up like toys. Officials have stated they do not yet have an accurate count of the total number of missing individuals and have begun the grim task of collecting DNA from family members to help identify the deceased.
Amid the grief and rescue operations, authorities are beginning to face scrutiny over the timeliness and adequacy of the warnings issued to residents ahead of the deluge. Questions are being raised about whether more could have been done to alert communities to the rapidly developing and life-threatening situation. For now, the focus remains on the urgent search and rescue mission as emergency crews race against time to find survivors.
