Texas Flash Flood Turns Deadly: Dozens Killed, Campers Missing as Search Intensifies

Central Texas is reeling after a catastrophic flash flood struck before dawn Friday, killing at least 43 people, including 15 children, and leaving dozens more missing — among them, 27 girls from a riverside summer camp still unaccounted for.

The disaster hit Kerr County, a region dotted with historic youth camps along the Guadalupe River, after an intense burst of rainfall sent the river surging by 26 feet in just 45 minutes.

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Camp Mystic, a long-standing Christian summer camp, bore the brunt of the flooding. Entire structures were swept away as the torrent ripped through the campgrounds while most of the campers were asleep.

By Saturday, the scale of devastation was staggering: overturned vehicles, collapsed cabins, and debris fields stretching for miles. Rescue operations, aided by helicopters, boats, and drones, are still underway. 

Teams have pulled survivors from trees and rooftops, but officials warn the worst may not be over. Flash flood warnings remain active across parts of South Central Texas, and rainfall is expected to continue.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared Sunday a statewide day of prayer, calling on citizens to honor those lost and support rescue efforts. “We will work around the clock,” he vowed, as emergency teams expanded their search into newly accessible zones.

But concerns are rising about preparedness. With the region’s long history of flooding, questions are being raised about whether early alerts were issued quickly enough — especially in areas hosting thousands for the holiday weekend. 

Officials, however, remain cautious about offering estimates of the total missing. “We simply don’t know yet,” said Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice, adding that access to several flood-hit areas remains blocked.

This marks one of the deadliest flood events in recent Texas history, cutting through a region deeply tied to American summer traditions — and now confronting a massive rescue and recovery effort.