The death toll from the devastating flash floods that swept through central Texas on Friday, 4 July, has risen to more than 100, with scores of people still missing as rescue efforts stretch into a fourth day.
At least 27 girls and staff members from Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls’ summer camp in Kerr County, are among the confirmed dead. Another ten girls and a camp counsellor remain unaccounted for, as rescue teams continue to wade through rivers of mud and debris in increasingly perilous conditions.
In total, 84 of the confirmed victims – including 56 adults and 28 children – were reported in Kerr County, where the Guadalupe River surged after hours of torrential rainfall. Authorities say at least 22 adults and 10 children have yet to be identified.
Camp Mystic said in a statement on Monday: “Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy.”
Among the deceased is Richard Eastland, 70, the co-owner and director of Camp Mystic, who died while attempting to rescue campers. Local pastor Del Way, a family friend, told the BBC: “The whole community will miss him. He died a hero.”
The National Weather Service (NWS) has warned of further slow-moving storms, increasing the risk of additional flash flooding in the region.
As questions mount over disaster preparedness, critics of President Donald Trump’s administration have pointed to significant budget cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which oversees the NWS.
But White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the criticism during a Monday briefing, calling the floods “an act of God” and stating that the NWS had issued “early and consistent warnings.”
She added: “The National Weather Service did its job. Local officials were briefed ahead of time, and flood watches and warnings were issued throughout the night.”
President Trump, who plans to visit Texas later this week, initially blamed the “Biden set-up” for weakened federal infrastructure but later conceded: “I wouldn’t blame Biden for it, either. I would just say this is a 100-year catastrophe.”
Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick admitted that a lack of flood sirens in Kerr County might have contributed to the high death toll. “They should be in place by next summer,” he said.
Senator Ted Cruz urged Americans to avoid political divisions in the wake of the tragedy, saying: “Now is not the time for partisan finger-pointing.”
Condolences have poured in from around the world. King Charles III wrote to President Trump, expressing “profound sadness” and “deepest sympathy” to the bereaved families, according to a statement from the British Embassy in Washington.
Local resident and campaigner Nicole Wilson has launched a petition demanding the installation of flood sirens in Kerr County — a measure that has been debated for nearly a decade but never funded.
Meanwhile, rescue operations continue under worsening weather conditions, with officials acknowledging that hope of finding more survivors is fading.
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