Texas Flood Aftermath: Discovered Remains of 50 Individuals - Status of Missing Girl Still Unclear - Texas Flood Tragedy: Confirmed Death Toll at 50, Rescued Individuals Accounted For - Status of Missing Girls Remains Unknown
In the aftermath of the devastating floods that hit Texas last week, an urgent search for missing children, particularly those from a Christian summer camp named Camp Mystic, is ongoing. The flood, caused by unexpected flash flooding along the Guadalupe River, has left a tragic toll, with at least 24 lives lost, including 15 children among 52 total fatalities.
The flood, which occurred on Friday, was triggered by heavy rainfall of up to 300 litres per square meter. This amount is a third of the average annual rainfall in Kerr County, where the floods were most severe. As a result, one of the walls of the Camp Mystic dining hall was completely destroyed, and the river's water level rose by eight meters in just 45 minutes.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott reported dramatic scenes, including a girl being rescued by helicopter from a tree. A total of 850 people were successfully evacuated, with eight reported injuries. To provide additional funds for affected counties, Governor Abbott declared a state of disaster. The Trump administration has also announced federal aid for the flood-affected areas.
The current search for the missing children is a large-scale operation involving at least 400 people, nine rescue teams, 14 helicopters, and 12 drones. Rescue teams are searching by air, land, and water. So far, 237 people have been rescued or evacuated, with most of the approximately 750 girls at the camp and other campers along the river being saved. However, the fate of 27 girls who were participating in Camp Mystic remains uncertain.
The tragedy has sparked criticism towards the Trump administration, with some county officials stating that they were not adequately informed about the floods. The Trump administration, led by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, has pledged to improve technologies at the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The NWS, responsible for weather forecasts and storm protection in the U.S., has urged residents near rivers to seek higher ground, expecting further heavy rain and "locally catastrophic" flash floods in the region.
The flood has also brought renewed attention to the issue of climate change. President Donald Trump, who has previously denied scientific findings on human-caused climate change, has not commented on the flood's potential link to climate change. The NOAA, however, has not made any official statements regarding the connection between the flood and climate change.
Meanwhile, the desperate search for the missing children continues. Governor Abbott and Homeland Security Secretary Noem have both expressed their commitment to finding all the missing children and providing support to the affected communities. Searches for more bodies and survivors are continuing on Saturday.
- In Texas, the search for 27 missing children from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp, persists after last week's catastrophic floods, which were triggered by sudden flash flooding along the Guadalupe River.
- The devastating flood, resulting in at least 52 fatalities, including 15 children, has sparked a large-scale operation with 400 individuals, nine rescue teams, 14 helicopters, and 12 drones actively searching by air, land, and water.
- Despite the urgent search, the fate of these 27 children remains uncertain, as concerns rise over climate change and its potential impact on extreme weather events such as this flood.
- Governor Greg Abbott and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, along with President Donald Trump, have expressed their commitment to finding the missing children, supporting affected communities, and potentially improving weather technologies at the National Weather Service (NWS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to better predict and prepare for future floods.
