At Least 25 Dead, 23 Girls Missing After Flash Floods in Texas
Torrential rains triggered the overflow of the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, sweeping away homes and a girls’ summer camp. Authorities continue search and rescue operations as the disaster unfolds.
Rescue teams continue searching for victims and missing persons after catastrophic flooding struck Kerr County, Texas. Photo: @CronicaBalear_
July 5, 2025 Hour: 2:03 am
At least 25 people have died and 23 girls remain missing after flash floods devastated central Texas. Torrential rainfall caused the Guadalupe River to overflow in Kerr County, inundating homes, roads and a children’s summer camp.
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In just a few hours, rainfall across the Texas Hill Country reached levels typical of several months. According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Guadalupe River rose by more than eight meters in only 45 minutes early Friday.
The fast-moving waters swept through towns and rural areas, flooding homes and cutting off roads. Videos on social media showed trees and buildings being carried away by the current.
Local authorities have confirmed at least 25 fatalities, including several children. The number may rise as emergency teams continue rescue and recovery operations. One of the worst-hit areas was Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls located along the river in Hunt. Out of approximately 750 campers, 23 remain missing, according to Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick.
Elinor Lester, 13, was among those rescued by helicopter along with her cabin group: “The camp was completely destroyed,” she said. “A helicopter landed and started taking people out. It was really scary.”
Residents across Kerr County described scenes of chaos and survival. Erin Burgess, from Ingram, recalled waking up to thunder at 3:30 a.m. Only 20 minutes later, water was pouring through the walls of her home: “My son and I floated to a tree and held on, and my husband and dog floated away. He was missing for a while, but we found them,” she said.
Matthew Stone, 44, from Kerrville, said he never received any emergency warning: “We didn’t get any emergency alerts. Nothing,” he said. Then, “a black wall of death.”
Barry Adelman, 54, said he and his family—including his 94-year-old grandmother and 9-year-old grandson—were forced into the attic of their three-story home as water levels rose: “I was horrified,” he said. “I had to look my grandson in the face and tell him it was going to be okay, but inside I was scared to death.”
More than 500 emergency personnel have been deployed in the region, supported by 14 helicopters, 12 drones, and rescue units from the Texas National Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard. 237 people have been rescued so far, including 167 by air. Governor Greg Abbott shared a video of one rescue in which a person clung to a tree before being lifted out by helicopter: “Air rescue missions like this are ongoing 24/7. We won’t stop until everyone is accounted for,” he said.
Officials have urged residents to avoid the Guadalupe River and surrounding areas, where many roads remain impassable. Despite weather forecasts warning of potential storms, flood alerts were not effectively issued in time. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly admitted the county lacks a public alert system: “We don’t have an alert system. Nobody knew this kind of flood was coming.”
The absence of early warning systems left many residents, including campers and families, with no time to prepare or evacuate. The region—often referred to as a “flash flood corridor”—is especially vulnerable. “When it rains, the water isn’t absorbed by the ground,” explained Austin Dickson, director of the Texas Hill Country Community Foundation. “It just runs downhill.”
The area’s rocky terrain, combined with increasing extreme weather, continues to expose rural communities to sudden natural disasters. Many homes and tourism-based businesses, located along the river, suffered heavy damage.
Rescue efforts are ongoing this weekend, with improved weather expected. Authorities are working to identify the deceased and locate the missing. Support services remain active across affected communities.
This is a developing story.
Author: MK
Source: AP - RT - La Jornada
