Key Points
- The death toll from catastrophic floods in Texas has reached 69.
- Eleven girls and a counsellor from a summer camp are among those who are still missing.
- More heavy rain is expected to continue in the area.
The death toll from catastrophic floods in Texas reached at least 69 on Sunday, including at least 21 children, as the search for girls missing from a summer camp entered a third day.
Texas governor Greg Abbott, speaking at a press conference on Sunday afternoon, said the death toll in Kerr County, the epicenter of the flooding, had reached 59, while another 10 had died elsewhere in Texas and 41 remained missing.
Among the most devastating impacts of the flooding occurred at Camp Mystic summer camp, a nearly century-old Christian girls camp, where 11 girls and a counsellor are still missing.
“It was nothing short of horrific to see what those young children went through,” said Abbott, who toured the area on Saturday and pledged to continue efforts to locate the missing.
The flooding occurred after the nearby Guadalupe River broke its banks after torrential rain fell in the central Texas area on Friday, the US Independence Day holiday. Larry Leitha, the Kerr County Sheriff in Texas Hill Country, said earlier that 21 children have died in the flooding.
Officials speaking at the press conference on Sunday afternoon said the destruction killed three people in Burnet County, one in Tom Green county, five in Travis county and one in Williamson county.
Officials said on Saturday that more than 850 people had been rescued, including some clinging to trees, after a sudden storm dumped up to 38cm of rain across the region, about 140 km northwest of San Antonio.
Ginger Turner, and her daughter, Hailey, right, pray during church services held at the Hunt Baptist Church. Their small town sits on the bank of the Guadalupe River and was severely damaged by recent flooding. Source: AP / Rodolfo Gonzalez
“Everyone in the community is hurting,” Leitha told reporters.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency was activated on Sunday and is deploying resources to first responders in Texas after President Donald Trump issued a major disaster declaration, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
United States Coast Guard helicopters and planes are helping the search and rescue efforts, DHS said.
Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem said a “moderate” flood watch issued on Thursday by the National Weather Service had not accurately predicted the extreme rainfall and said the administration was working to upgrade the system.
More rain was expected in the area on Sunday.
The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for Kerr County until 1pm local time.
The disaster unfolded rapidly on Friday morning as heavier-than-forecast rain drove river waters rapidly to as high as nine metres.
Camp Mystic had 700 girls in residence at the time of the flooding.
Onlookers survey damage along the Guadalupe River after a flash flood swept through the area. Source: AAP / Eric Gay/AP
A day after the disaster struck, the camp was a scene of devastation.
Inside one cabin, mud lines indicating how high the water had risen were at least 1.83 metres from the floor.
Bed frames, mattresses and personal belongings caked with mud were scattered inside.
Some buildings had broken windows, one had a missing wall.
