They vanished overnight—massive search underway in Texas flood disaster
The number of confirmed fatalities from devastating flash floods across Central Texas increased to 67 on Sunday, as emergency crews continued scouring hazardous terrain in search of dozens more victims, including 11 girls missing from a local summer camp. The fast-rising floodwaters engulfed communities early Friday, catching many residents off guard in the dark.
Campers embrace after arriving at a reunification area Saturday as girls from Camp Waldemar are reconnected with their families.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via AP
In Kerr County, 16 more bodies were recovered between Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, raising the total fatalities in that area alone to 59, according to Sheriff Larry Leitha. Among the dead were 21 children. Sheriff Leitha reaffirmed his commitment to continue search operations in the region until every missing individual is located following Friday’s catastrophic flooding event.
Elsewhere, officials confirmed four deaths in Travis County, three in Burnet County, and one in Kendall County. The toll reflects the widespread and destructive nature of the flood, which overwhelmed several Central Texas counties with little warning.
Teams faced treacherous conditions as they combed through miles of wooded riverbanks littered with toppled trees, destroyed vehicles, and thick mud. Authorities have yet to release the full number of missing persons beyond the known 11 children and a counselor from Camp Mystic, a Christian camp deeply affected by the storm’s fury.
On Sunday morning, families of the missing were permitted to walk through parts of the camp. As they surveyed the water-damaged grounds, heavy machinery operated by rescue crews removed large branches and other obstructions from nearby riverbanks. Overhead, thunder from an approaching storm rumbled ominously.
Amid soggy mattresses, discarded clothing, and scattered belongings, a woman and teenage girl dressed in rubber waders stepped into one of the battered cabins. Overcome with emotion, they wept before embracing each other outside the structure, embodying the pain experienced by many families during the ongoing crisis.
The search effort became more urgent as hours passed and the odds of locating survivors diminished. Despite requests from officials, volunteers and families of the missing navigated the flood-ravaged landscape independently, hoping for signs of life.
Residents and local leaders raised growing concerns about whether enough was done to warn the public ahead of the flood. The region, long known as vulnerable to flash flooding, saw water levels surge by 26 feet within just 45 minutes, obliterating homes, sweeping away vehicles, and stranding entire communities.
The danger persisted into Sunday as additional rainfall drenched the region. Flash flood watches remained active across much of Central Texas. Search and rescue operations utilized helicopters, boats, and drones to locate the missing and to reach those trapped in trees and cut off by submerged roadways. Officials reported that more than 850 people had been rescued within the first 36 hours following the disaster.
Governor Greg Abbott announced that search operations would continue around the clock and designated Sunday as a statewide day of prayer. “I urge every Texan to join me in prayer this Sunday — for the lives lost, for those still missing, for the recovery of our communities, and for the safety of those on the front lines,” he said in a statement.
Thousands of miles away, Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City offered his condolences to the affected families, addressing the tragedy during his traditional noon blessing in Rome. Speaking in English, the first American pontiff said, “I would like to express sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, in particular their daughters who were in summer camp, in the disaster caused by the flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas in the United States. We pray for them.”
The Guadalupe River area, especially popular during summer holidays, hosts a number of historic youth camps and outdoor retreats. Its long-standing appeal draws families from across the region, making it difficult for officials to determine how many visitors may have been present when the floods struck.
Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice remarked on Saturday, “We don’t even want to begin to estimate at this time,” when asked about the potential number of people still unaccounted for.
Accounts from survivors described terrifying moments of being swept off their feet, clinging to trees, and watching debris-laden currents drag vehicles through residential areas. Others sought safety in attics, praying the rising water would stop before breaching the final barrier.
At Camp Mystic, one group of girls was led by rescuers across a narrow bridge while holding onto a rope, the current swirling around their legs. The group included an 8-year-old girl from Mountain Brook, Alabama, who did not survive. A camp director from a nearby facility was also among those confirmed dead.
Known as “flash flood alley,” the region has a well-documented history of sudden, powerful flooding. Nevertheless, the timing and force of Friday’s deluge caught many off guard despite advance warnings.
The National Weather Service began issuing alerts on Thursday, cautioning of potential flooding. Early Friday morning, flash flood warnings were disseminated, followed shortly thereafter by rare flash flood emergencies — signaling life-threatening conditions.
Some camps in the area took preventive measures. At Mo-Ranch Camp in Hunt, staff moved several hundred youth conference attendees to higher ground in anticipation of the storm. Administrators at Camps Rio Vista and Sierra Vista also posted weather updates and precautionary messages on social media on Thursday before closing out their summer sessions.
Still, the intensity of the overnight rainfall, described as the equivalent of several months of precipitation, overwhelmed many communities. Local leaders and elected officials, including U.S. Representative Chip Roy, acknowledged that questions about readiness and emergency response would follow. “There will be second-guessing and finger-pointing,” he said of the public’s demand for accountability as recovery continues.
