: BBC
Texas, July 5 – At least 24 people have been confirmed dead following powerful flash floods that tore through Kerr County, Texas, devastating a Christian girls’ summer camp situated along the Guadalupe River, according to a BBC report.
Authorities say as many as 20 children are still missing after the floodwaters swept through the campgrounds, washing away cabins and cutting off access routes. Emergency responders have been working through debris and floodwaters to search for survivors.
In a statement issued Tuesday evening, US President Donald Trump described the disaster as “terrible” and the floods as “shocking,” offering condolences to the affected families. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said rescue operations will continue overnight, urging people to keep the missing and their families in their prayers.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with floodwaters rising rapidly and trapping many in the area. Families of the missing have turned to social media in a desperate bid to locate their loved ones, BBC’s Angélica Casas reported from Texas.
Local authorities have set up temporary shelters and issued warnings of continued flood risk, urging residents to avoid low-lying areas near rivers and streams.
This disaster comes as the state continues to battle extreme weather conditions, with emergency services stretched and many communities still recovering from previous storm damage.
Rescue teams are expected to release updated figures by morning as the search continues.