Catastrophic flood news reports in the U.S. indicate over 100 fatalities due to the disaster
In the heart of Texas, a summer retreat for girls known as Camp Mystic has become the epicentre of a devastating disaster. The private Christian camp, founded in 1926 and nestled in the hill country along the Guadalupe River, was completely destroyed by flash floods that swept through Kerr County last week.
The floodwaters rose rapidly on July 5, 2025, inundating the camp and surrounding areas. According to reports, the Guadalupe River surged about 26 feet in just 45 minutes, submerging much of Kerr County, including Camp Mystic. The surge was roughly the height of a two-story building, and the resulting floods left a trail of destruction in their wake.
At the time of the flood, approximately 650 people were at the camp, including around 550 children. The camp has been described as "horrendously ravaged," with 27 lives tragically lost, including several campers and counselors.
Search and rescue teams have been working tirelessly to locate missing persons, surveying miles of the Guadalupe River. The last missing person was found alive on the Friday following the flooding, but many remain unaccounted for.
The flooding event was one of the most devastating in the region's "flash flood alley," a term used to describe areas particularly prone to flash floods. Federal forecasters described the situation as "particularly dangerous," issuing flash flood emergency alerts urging people to seek higher ground.
However, there were significant delays in the emergency response. Although a firefighter requested an emergency alert at 4:22 a.m. to warn residents, Kerr County officials delayed sending the alert by approximately 90 minutes. Some warnings did not reach residents until after 10 a.m., by which time many had already been swept away by the floods.
The tragedy at Camp Mystic is not an isolated incident. Multiple counties besides Kerr, including Travis, Burnet, Kendall, Williamson, and Tom Green, also reported deaths related to the flooding. In Kerr County alone, 84 people have died, including 28 children.
The death toll from the Texas floods has exceeded 100, making it one of the deadliest flood events in the state's history. The search for missing girls from Camp Mystic continues, and the community is united in mourning the loss and continuously praying for the affected families.
In a recent development, US President Donald Trump is expected to visit Texas this week, likely on Friday, to assess the situation and offer support to the affected communities. The White House has denied criticism that the National Weather Service was understaffed due to budget cuts, stating that the service had sufficient resources to issue timely warnings.
As the search for missing persons continues, the community at Camp Mystic and beyond remains hopeful, praying for a miracle and a chance to rebuild in the wake of this tragic event.
In response to the tragic disaster at Camp Mystic, President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Texas this week to offer support and assess the situation. Meanwhile, search and rescue teams continue their efforts, hoping to find the remaining missing persons from the flooding incident. The floodwaters also caused significant deaths in other counties such as Travis, Burnet, Kendall, Williamson, and Tom Green, with the death toll from the Texas floods surpassing 100, making it one of the deadliest flood events in the state's history.
