The death toll in the catastrophic flash floods in central Texas has killed at least 82 people while desperate search for 41 missing persons, including 10 girls from a summer camp continue as fears of more flooding triggered evacuations of volunteer responders. The massive devastation along the Guadalupe River, outside of San Antonio has called for an extensive search effort as officials faced questions about their preparedness.
According to sheriff of Kerr County in Texas Hill Country, Larry Leitha, 68 people had died in Kerr County which is being seen as the epicenter of the flood. The fatalities in Kerr County include 28 children where a riverside Christian girls’ camp was submerged in waters and at least 10 girls and a counsellor from Camp Mystic are still missing. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, during a press briefing on Sunday afternoon, confirmed that 41 people were missing across the state.
A man surveys debris along the Guadalupe River after a flash flood struck the area. (AP Photo)
US President Donald Trump sent his condolences to the victims of the flash flood in Texas and said that he would visit the region on Friday. The Trump administration has been in touch with Governor Abbott. While leaving New Jersey, Trump told reporters “It’s a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible. So we say, God bless all of the people that have gone through so much, and God bless, God bless the state of Texas.”
Massive rain hit Texas at flood prone place
The massive flood hit the Texas Hill Country at a time when the area is already flood prone and many people were asleep due to a long holiday weekend to celebrate July 4 Independence Day. The Texas Hill Country in central Texas has already been prone to flash floods due to the dry-dirt packed areas where the soil, instead of soaking the water, lets it skid along the surface of the landscape. The flash floods which started on July 4 witnessed a bad storm and then poured 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rain overnight.
The National Weather Service office, after issuing flood watch notice on Thursday, issued an urgent warning at 4am of flash flood that raised the potential of catastrophic damage and a severe threat to human life. By around 5:20am, people in the Kerrville City said water levels were rising alarmingly. The massive rain water flowed down hills and sent the water rushing into Guadalupe River.