Dozens dead after flash flood hits Texas summer camp
Catastrophic flooding that swept through Central Texas during the early hours of the July Fourth holiday have left more than 100 people dead, with dozens still missing, reports a Kazinform News Agency correspondent.
Among the hardest-hit areas was Camp Mystic, a historic Christian girls camp near Hunt, Texas. Camp officials confirmed that 27 campers and counselors were swept away when the Guadalupe River rose rapidly during the early morning hours.
Kerr County officials reported 84 bodies recovered, including 28 children, with 11 still missing. The camp, nestled along a riverbend in the flood-prone Hill Country, was caught off guard as water surged 26 feet in just 45 minutes. Survivors described being pulled from cabins by raging waters or rescued by helicopter from elevated areas known as “Senior Hill.”
Authorities said 19 other deaths occurred in nearby counties, bringing the total to 104. Debris along the riverbanks included mattresses, canoes, and children’s belongings — signs of the sudden disaster.
Search teams, aided by over 1,000 volunteers, continue to comb through the wreckage. Officials are reviewing why some camps failed to evacuate despite early weather warnings. Poor cellphone coverage in rural areas may have delayed alerts.
Earlier, it was reported that up to 80 people had died and more than 40 remained missing as of Sunday, three days after hours of heavy rain triggered devastating flash floods in the south-central U.S. state of Texas.