At least 109 people have died, and over 160 remain missing following severe flash floods in Texas, with rescue efforts ongoing along the Guadalupe River. Officials reported that 87 of the fatalities occurred in Kerr County. Camp Mystic, situated along the river in Hunt, Texas, confirmed on Monday that at least 27 campers and counselors lost their lives in the flooding, according to the Xinhua news agency.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott stated in a news briefing on Tuesday afternoon that 161 individuals are currently unaccounted for, emphasizing that search operations will continue throughout the Guadalupe River system in hopes of finding more survivors. He urged the public to reach out to local officials with any information regarding missing friends or family members.
“Our hearts are broken alongside the families enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are constantly praying for them,” Camp Mystic expressed in a statement. “We are in contact with local and state authorities, who are diligently deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls.”
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha reported on Tuesday that at least five campers and one counselor from Camp Mystic are still unaccounted for. The sheriff noted that approximately 750 children were present at the camp when the floods struck.
In response to the disaster, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County at Governor Abbott's request. Abbott visited the summer camp on Saturday, describing the scene as “horrendously ravaged.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his sorrow over the loss of life in Texas due to the flooding. His spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, stated, “The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life, particularly among children, caused by the recent floods in Texas, which occurred during what should have been a time of celebration over the holiday weekend.” Guterres extends his heartfelt condolences to the victims' families and stands in solidarity with all those affected, including the people of Texas and the U.S. government.
