The death toll in the flood that devastated Kerr County in the US state of Texas, according to authorities, has risen to 51, including 15 children.
The flash flooding began on Thursday night into Friday morning – the start of the 4 July holiday weekend.
Officials have said that the equivalent of a month’ worth of rain fell in a matter of hours.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has warned that more rain is forecast for the central Texas area and that “excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations”.
“A Flood Watch is in effect,” NWS San Antonio/Austin says on X.
Renee Smajstrla, an eight-year-old girl, was at the camp when flooding struck, according to her uncle.
“Renee has been found, and while not the outcome we prayed for, the social media outreach likely assisted the first responders in helping to identify her so quickly,” Shawn Salta said on Facebook.
Janie Hunt, a nine-year-old, was also in attendance at the camp with six of her cousins, who were later confirmed safe by Janie’s grandmother.
However, Lila Bonner, also nine, was found dead after the flooding.
“In the midst of our unimaginable grief, we ask for privacy and are unable to confirm any details at this time,” her family said in a statement to NBC News.
More individuals remain missing, including 15 from a Christian summer camp, according to Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick.
“Within 45 minutes, the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet, and it was a destructive flood, taking property and, sadly, lives,” he said during a news conference on Friday.
He delivered a statement from the all-girls Camp Mystic, which had approximately 750 students in attendance. He described the flooding as “catastrophic”.
Patrick also told parents that if they haven’t been contacted, their child is safe.
“That does not mean [the missing children] have been lost. They could be out of communication,” the lieutenant governor, who is acting governor while Governor Greg Abbott is on vacation, added.
Patrick thanked the public for their offers of personal helicopters and drones but stated that no extra equipment is required to assist with rescue attempts.
He stated that rescue organisations had 14 helicopters, 12 drones, nine rescue teams, and swimmers in the water, totalling 400-500 people on the ground.
Another officer indicated that the search would continue throughout the night.
He stated that the floods damaged an area with a large number of summer camps attended by “thousands” of youngsters, particularly during the 4th of July weekend.
“We have not had reports from other camps at this point of a loss, but that does not mean there has not been,” Patrick said.
On Friday morning, the state’s Hill Country and Concho Valley districts were declared disaster areas due to severe flooding.
The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office has reported heavy flooding, with multiple individuals missing and one fatality verified.
At a news conference on Friday afternoon, Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county’s senior official, was questioned about why the campers along the Guadalupe River had not been evacuated in preparation.
“We didn’t know this flood was coming. Rest assured, no one knew this kind of flood was coming,” Kelly responded.
He later stated, “We do not have a warning system” in the area, which floods frequently.
He said what happened on Friday was “far” worse than a flood in 1987 that killed ten adolescents on a church camp bus at Comfort, south of Kerr County.
Rescues and evacuations have been underway since early this morning, and there are predictions of more flash floods in the state.
Officials said the state received many months’ worth of precipitation in a few hours, resulting in deadly flash floods.
Governor Greg Abbott stated that Texas was giving “all necessary resources to Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt, and the entire Texas Hill Country dealing with these devastating floods”.
The region is located northwest of San Antonio.
Pictures show deep floodwaters swamping bridges and fast-moving water swirling down highways.
“Folks, please don’t take chances. Stay alert, follow local emergency warnings, and do not drive through flooded roads,” Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said.
The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office advised residents near creeks, streams, and the Guadalupe River to relocate to higher ground.
Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring said there was no sign the floods would be so destructive since the country lacks an early warning system, according to the Kerrville Daily Times.
The Kerrville Breaking News Facebook group is a place where people frequently post food recommendations, upcoming events, and information for the area.
On Friday, it was bombarded with posts from families whose relatives were missing as a result of the water.
A desperate mother revealed that she had been unable to contact her daughter and son-in-law, whose home had been carried away from a road near Kerrville Lake.
One woman in Austin, Texas, stated that her grandparents, who live along the Guadalupe River, had not been heard from since yesterday.
Separately, police in New Jersey report that at least three individuals died as a result of heavy rain and thunderstorms Thursday night.
Two men, ages 79 and 25, were killed when a tree fell on their vehicle in Plainfield during Thursday’s violent storm.
A 44-year-old lady was also killed when a tree fell on her car in North Plainfield.
