The search continues for more than 20 girls whose camp was swept away by the rising Guadalupe River.
The state weather service warns of new torrential rains in the coming hours, with the possibility of more flooding.
The devastating flooding caused by the overflowing Guadalupe River has now left at least 52 dead in the U.S. state of Texas, especially in Kerr County, where 43 people, including 15 children, have already died. The enormous torrent of water has ravaged central and southern Texas. The Texas Hill Country region is once again under threat of imminent torrential rains and further flooding.
In addition to the 43 deaths in Kerr, Burnet County Emergency Management Coordinator Derek Marchio told CNN that three more people died in the “significant flooding” caused by torrential rains in the county, where two more remain missing.
At least four people have also died from the same cause in Travis County, local authorities reported Saturday night. In recent hours, one death has also been confirmed in Kendall County and another in Tom Green.
Meanwhile, rescuers will continue their work Sunday to find survivors, including more than 20 girls who were at a Christian camp at the time of the flooding. They are aware that these numbers “will be constantly changing,” Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice told CNN.
Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd explained that “the entire river is being searched, from the northernmost point to the end of the river,” and that these efforts include aircraft, boats, and ground crews, as well as tracking dogs, to support the search. “This process will continue. We will not stop until all the missing are found,” he stated in statements reported by the same network.
Rice noted that they have “been rescuing hundreds of people from these camps throughout the day,” but that—despite these efforts—at least 27 minors remain unaccounted for.
“We are very focused on the safety of the people. Our priority is the search and rescue of every person involved, and we will continue throughout the night to ensure that this is the case,” the NWS added after announcing that they have now located all the residents of the approximately 18 other encampments located near the Guadalupe River, where a large number of people had moved for the Fourth of July celebrations.
The rains will not let up. The latest assessment released this morning by the state weather service warns of intense rainfall, ranging from localized to scattered, with the possibility of localized flash flooding during the next few hours, from the Midwest to Central Texas.
“Rainfall of 5 to 10 cm per hour is expected, which will overlap with areas of the region with sensitive or saturated soils due to recent heavy rains,” the NWS warns.
Until further notice, the latest alert issued by the state weather service prevails. The service has warned of flood threats in nearly a dozen towns and recommended more than 100,000 residents move to higher ground in recent hours. At least 850 people have had to be evacuated, eight of them injured.
“More than 30 cm of rain fell overnight. Streams have risen rapidly, and waters are beginning to recede downstream in Burnet, Williamson, and northwest Travis counties. Numerous water rescues are underway. Seek higher ground immediately if you are near a potential flood.”