America: Casualties and Missing Persons in Sudden Floods Sweeping Texas
Sudden floods struck central Texas early Friday morning, resulting in the deaths of at least 24 individuals and leaving around 25 girls from a summer camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River missing. This natural disaster shook the state and initiated massive rescue operations that lasted throughout the night.
The Mystic Camp, a summer camp for girls in Kerr County, faced devastating floods that inundated its facilities while the girls were enjoying their summer break. County Sheriff Larry Leitha reported that families began posting images of their daughters on social media, seeking any information, while others flocked to reunification centers in hopes of locating their missing loved ones.
Local authorities confirmed on Friday evening that the number of missing persons remains uncertain due to damage to infrastructure, including downed power lines, submerged roads, and intermittent mobile service, which hampered rescue efforts.
The governor of the state indicated that initial weather warnings were inadequate, catching both residents and authorities off guard, prompting more severe alerts to be issued in the early hours of Friday.
The Texas National Guard reported executing 237 rescue and evacuation operations using helicopters and divers, while the governor declared a state of emergency covering 15 counties to expedite the allocation of necessary funding for relief efforts.
This disaster harkens back to similar floods experienced in the region in 1987, which also resulted in significant losses along the Guadalupe River.
