The death toll from catastrophic flooding in Texas has risen to at least 104, as rescue teams continue searching for missing people swept away by fast-rising waters over the Fourth of July weekend. The disaster has struck central Texas especially hard, with Kerr County reporting at least 84 fatalities, including 28 children.
Among the dead are at least 27 girls and counselors from Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp situated along the Guadalupe River. The camp, which was housing about 750 people when the floodwaters struck, became the site of one of the nation’s worst natural disasters in recent years. Some campers and staff remain missing as recovery efforts persist.
The floods, described by President Donald Trump as a “100-year catastrophe,” were triggered by torrential rain that caused the Guadalupe River to surge more than 26 feet in under an hour—submerging cabins, shattering windows, and leaving personal belongings caked in mud. Months’ worth of rain fell in a matter of hours, and forecasters warn that more rainfall could worsen conditions for both survivors and rescue crews.
Helicopters, boats, and nearly 1,750 personnel have been deployed in the ongoing search and recovery operations. Volunteers, some with personal ties to the victims, have joined the effort to comb through debris along the riverbanks and in devastated communities.
The tragedy has sparked debate over the region’s flood-warning systems. While experts say the National Weather Service issued timely forecasts, some residents believe a lack of robust warning dissemination contributed to the high death toll. Calls for modernized alert networks have intensified, with petitions urging state officials to implement more effective systems in areas known as “Flash Flood Alley”.
Vigils have been held across Texas, with communities gathering to mourn the victims and support grieving families. As the state braces for more rain, officials warn the number of victims could still rise, underscoring the ongoing threat posed by extreme weather events intensified by climate change.
