TEXAS: Flash floods in central Texas have claimed the lives of at least 81 people, with another 41 reported missing, officials confirmed. Kerr County suffered the highest casualties, with 68 deaths including 28 children, primarily due to the catastrophic flooding of a riverside Christian girls’ camp, Camp Mystic. Ten girls and a counselor from the camp remain unaccounted for.

Additional fatalities include five in Travis County, three in Burnet County, two each in Williamson and Kendall counties, and one in Tom Green County. Authorities warn the death toll is likely to rise as rescue operations continue.

The floods struck before dawn Friday when the Guadalupe River surged 26 feet in just 45 minutes, overwhelming campers who were asleep. The disaster is considered one of the largest search-and-rescue efforts in recent Texas history, now shifting focus toward recovery.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott vowed to “stop at nothing” to find every missing person and described the ordeal faced by the children as “horrific.”

Heavy storms are expected to continue in the region, complicating rescue efforts already challenged by hazards such as venomous snakes amid debris.

President Donald Trump declared Kerr County a major disaster area and activated federal emergency assistance. He plans to visit Texas later this week.

Local communities have rallied to support relief efforts, providing supplies, shelter, and aid to displaced residents.
Global condolences poured in, including prayers from Pope Leo XIV, who expressed sympathy especially for the families affected at the summer camp.