Twenty seven people confirmed dead in Texas
Twenty seven people are confirmed dead after flooding in Texas.
Eighteen are adults and nine are children, an official from Kerr County said.
“We are working hard to locate anyone who is still missing and ensure they are safe,” Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said.
Some 850 people have been rescued so far.
Key events
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency for River Road along the Guadalupe River, between the towns of Sattler and Gruene in Comal county. They are urging residents to evacuate immediately.
Flash flood emergencies remain in effect for various locations around central Texas, including: Burnet county, western Williamson county, north-west Travis county, and the Guadalupe River in Colam county, between Sattler/Gruene, the National Weather Service said.
Authorities say more than 1,000 rescuers are on the ground in Texas, searching for missing people as rains continue to fall outside of San Antonio, the Associated Press reports. Flash flood warnings remain in effect.
Twenty-seven girls from Camp Mystic remain missing, officials say, as authorities have rescued more than 850 people during operations so far.
Edward Helmore
Reports are beginning to emerge of extraordinary stories of survival from the Texas Hill Country floods, even as the official death toll continues mounting, reaching at least 24 on Saturday.
A young woman was dramatically rescued after she was carried 12 miles down the Guadalupe River by raging flood waters, and later pictured clinging to branches of a tree. The woman, who has not been identified publicly, was rescued, News 4 San Antonio reported.
Erin Burgess told the outlet that the rain on Thursday night and into Friday was “pretty heavy, but no big deal”. She was woken by the storm at 3.30am, and waters around her home in the Bumble Bee Hills neighborhood in Kerr county started to rise.
A drone video shows the scale of devastation left by the flash floods along the Guadalupe River in Texas on Friday.
Twenty seven children missing from camp
City manager Dalton Rice acknowledged the number of those missing is likely to change throughout the day, saying:
“The 27 missing are the children from Camp Mystic. As for unknown other missing, we do not have an accurate count, and we do not want to begin to estimate at this time.”
The news conference has now ended with a further update expected at around 8pm UK time.
Sheriff Larry Leitha told a news conference: “I want to tell you and assure y’all that we will not stop till every single person is found.
“We’ve got all the resources we need. We’re here for the long haul. As I said, numbers will be changing rapidly.”
A shelter has been set up for the general public who need assistance.
Representative Chip Roy said there are one thousand “boots on the ground” with 160 air rescues having taken place already.
Twenty seven people confirmed dead in Texas
Twenty seven people are confirmed dead after flooding in Texas.
Eighteen are adults and nine are children, an official from Kerr County said.
“We are working hard to locate anyone who is still missing and ensure they are safe,” Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said.
Some 850 people have been rescued so far.
In the last few minutes, the US president Donald Trump has posted this on his Truth Social platform: “The Trump Administration is working with State and Local Officials on the ground in Texas in response to the tragic flooding that took place yesterday. Our Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, will be there shortly.
“Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy. Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!”
What we know so far
If you’re just joining us, here’s a quick summary of all the latest from the devastating floods in Texas.
-
At least 24 people are known to have died in flash flooding after the Guadalupe River burst its banks early on Friday
-
Up to 25 girls who had been attending a Christian summer camp near the town of Kerrville, north-west of San Antonio, are still missing
-
One 13-year-old girl who was evacuated by helicopter after being woken in the middle of the night said the “camp was completely destroyed”
-
Officials have said the floods were not predicted by forecasts and that the river rose by 26ft (8m) in just 45 minutes
-
Vice President JD Vance has called the deaths an “incomprehensible tragedy”, while First Lady Melania Trump said she was sending her “prayers for strength, comfort, and resilience” for those affected
-
Pictures from the ground show widespread destruction to homes, vehicles, and trees as well as ongoing rescue efforts
-
Warnings for flash flooding around the region remain in place
-
More rain has been forecast for Saturday and Sunday, with Texas Lt-Gov Dan saying the forecast for potential heavy rain and flooding covered a large area
Multiple flash flood warnings have been announced in the region around the Guadalupe River.
The National Weather Service for Austin and San Antonio said warnings were in place in the areas around the town of McSweeney and the city of Lockhart, both of which sit to the northeast of San Antonio.
It issued a further warning for the city of Georgetown, which sits to the north of Austin.
Deaths an ‘incomprehensible tragedy’, says VP
US Vice President JD Vance has described the deaths caused by the flooding in Texas as an “incomprehensible tragedy”.
At least 24 people are known to have died after the Guadalupe River burst its banks early on Friday, while more than 20 others are still missing.
“Our nation’s heart breaks for the victims in Texas and their families,” Vance wrote in a statement on social media. “Just an incomprehensible tragedy.
“I hope everyone affected knows they’re in the prayers of my family, and of millions of Americans.”
He also shared a prayer: “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
“and let perpetual light shine upon them.
“May the souls of all the faithful departed,
“through the mercy of God, rest in peace.”
Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, which is collecting donations to help nonprofits responding to the disaster, said the area affected is known as “flash flood alley” because of the hills’ thin layer of soil.
“When it rains, water doesn’t soak into the soil,” Dickson told the Associated Press. “It rushes down the hill.”
River tourism industry is a key part of the Hill Country economy. Well-known, century-old summer camps bring in children from all over the country, Dickson said.
“It’s generally a very tranquil river with really beautiful clear blue water that people have been attracted to for generations,” he added.
More rain expected on Saturday and Sunday – forecasters
More rain has been forecast for Saturday and Sunday, forecasters said.
A flood watch had been upgraded to a warning overnight on Friday for at least 30,000 people, the Associated Press reports.
Texas Lt-Gov Dan Patrick said the potential for heavy rain and flooding covered a large area.
“Everything was done to give them a heads up that you could have heavy rain, and we’re not exactly sure where it’s going to land,” Patrick said.
“Obviously as it got dark last night, we got into the wee morning of the hours, that’s when the storm started to zero in.”
Kerr county judge Rob Kelly, the county’s chief elected official, said: “We do not have a warning system.”
When pushed on why more precautions weren’t taken, Kelly said no one knew this kind of flood was coming.
The slow-moving storm stuck over central Texas is expected to bring more rain on Saturday, with the potential for pockets of heavy downpours and more flooding, said Jason Runyen, of the National Weather Service.
The threat could linger overnight and into Sunday morning, he said.
