At least 59 people have died and dozens are still missing after the floods that whipped the center and south of the state of Texas. The main cause was the sudden flood of the Guadalupe River, which reached historical levels after heavy rains on Friday afternoon. Kerr County, east of San Antonio, has been the most affected, with 43 fatal victims confirmed, including 15 minors.
Tragic floods in Texas: Who are the victims identified so far
“There are still strong rainfall today. The balance is now 59 (deceased) and, sadly, we foresee that it continues to rise,” Fox News told the attached governor Dan Patrick.
The County Sheriff, Larry Leitha Jr., reported that search and rescue work continues. “We are still focused on locating missing people,” he said in a public appearance. Local authorities work with terrestrial, aerial and aquatic personnel, supported by canine units. The head of the Texas Emergency Management Department, Nim Kidd, said the operation will run along the entire course of the Guadalupe River, and said that “they will not stop until they find everyone.”
In Travis County, another four deaths were reported and at least thirteen missing. In addition, the authorities confirmed three deaths in Burnet, one in Kendall and one in Tom Green. Among the victims are local residents and visitors who were in the area to celebrate the July 4 holiday.
One of the main focuses of concern is the Mystic Christian camp, located next to the Guadalupe River, where 750 girls were housed. At least 27 minors, together with monitors, are still without being located. The director of the camp, Dick Eastland, is among the deceased. The images of the place show stranded vehicles, collapsed structures and flooded cabins. The administrator of the city of Kerville, Dalton Rice, reported that more than 850 people have been evacuated and transferred to temporary shelters.
According to the National Meteorological Service, in a period of just 12 hours more than 300 millimeters of rain fell, which caused a sudden increase in the river level. In the town of Hunt, the Guadalupe reached a height of 9.9 meters, the second highest record since you have data. The flood, meteorologists explained, was more intense than expected. “The predictions were wrong. The amount of rain was twice as much as anticipated,” Rice admitted.
The situation remains unstable. The NWS warned about new intense rainfall, which could accumulate between 5 and 10 centimeters per hour in already saturated areas. Flood alerts in at least ten locations are kept active and more than 100,000 people have been recommended to high areas. In the social networks of the weather service the call was repeated: “If you are close to a possible overflow, look for the highest land immediately.”
In response to the emergency, the governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, declared the state of disaster and requested federal assistance. President Donald Trump expressed his support through the Social Truth Network. “Texas will do everything possible to ensure that all missing people are found,” he wrote. The Secretary of National Security, Kristi Noem, reached the affected area and assured that the federal government is “fully committed” to rescue tasks. In total, 500 rescuers, 14 helicopters, the National Guard and the Texas Coast Guard have been deployed.
The authorities also face health problems derived from water pollution by gasoline and chemicals. To prevent risks, the drinking water supply will be temporarily replaced by underground sources. The Kerr County Sheriff’s office has asked the population to avoid circulating through the western zone, except for urgent or resident cases.
Water pollution and health risks aggravate the emergency, while experts link the disaster to climate change (AP/Eric Gay)
Floods are not alien to this region. Last June, thirteen people died in San Antonio for similar episodes. However, scientists and climate experts agree that climate change is aggravating the frequency and intensity of these phenomena. Extreme rains have become more common, and the drainage and emergency systems of many locations are not prepared to respond quickly.
In Kerville, affected families await news in community centers and temporary shelters. Some residents have begun to organize cleaning tasks, collecting debris and accumulated mud, although the authorities insist that the conditions remain dangerous. RICE has asked those who wish to help them within their own communities and follow the indications of emergency equipment.
While rescue tasks continue, the authorities announced that they will offer new updates during Sunday. The priority, they insist, is to find the disappeared and avoid new victims, in the midst of a situation that continues to evolve. The disaster has evidenced the vulnerabilities of a region that increasingly faces the effects of extreme meteorological phenomena.
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