Death Toll Rises in Texas Flood Disaster; Rescue Efforts Continue Amid Severe Weather
The death toll from catastrophic flash floods sweeping across central Texas has risen to at least 81, with 41 people still unaccounted for, as emergency crews brace for further storms that could deepen the unfolding crisis.
The worst-hit area is Kerr County, where a powerful surge of floodwaters swept through a riverside Christian girls’ camp, tragically claiming the lives of numerous children.
Several remain missing as search efforts intensify in the aftermath of what officials are calling one of the most devastating natural disasters in the state’s recent history.
Other counties reporting fatalities include Travis, Burnet, Williamson, Kendall, and Tom Green, each reeling from the unprecedented scale of destruction. First responders describe entire neighborhoods being submerged in minutes as rivers burst their banks, carrying away vehicles, homes, and infrastructure.
Three days after the initial deluge, search-and-rescue operations are transitioning toward recovery, with state and federal teams scouring through thick mud, splintered debris, and snake-infested waters. Many of the deceased are yet to be formally identified, and officials warn the casualty figures are likely to climb.
“We will stop at nothing to find every missing person,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott vowed on Sunday, addressing the state in an emotional press briefing. He praised the bravery of first responders and called for nationwide solidarity as Texas faces one of its most urgent humanitarian emergencies.
The U.S. National Weather Service has issued extended flood watches across the affected regions until 7:00 p.m. local time Monday (01:00 GMT Tuesday), with additional rainfall expected to worsen the already perilous conditions. Saturated ground and rising rivers threaten to overwhelm weakened levees and complicate the recovery mission.
Emergency workers are also dealing with hazards ranging from downed power lines to dangerous wildlife displaced by the floods. Entire communities remain without power or clean water, and shelters across central Texas are nearing capacity.
The scale of the flooding is drawing comparisons to Hurricane Harvey (2017) and the 2021 winter storm, with local officials calling for urgent federal assistance and long-term infrastructure planning.
Kerr County Sheriff’s Department said the situation at the girls’ camp — where water levels rose faster than staff could evacuate — was “heartbreaking beyond words.”
Federal and state investigators have launched inquiries into the region’s emergency preparedness and whether earlier warnings might have mitigated the loss of life.
Across Texas, churches and community centers have turned into makeshift shelters and crisis response hubs. Volunteers, including off-duty firefighters and local civilians, continue to join search teams. Emotional vigils are being held for the missing and dead.
