The death toll from catastrophic flash floods in central Texas has climbed to at least 81, with 41 people still unaccounted for, as emergency crews brace for more rainfall that threatens to disrupt ongoing search and recovery operations.
The worst-hit area is Kerr County, where 68 deaths — including 28 children — have been recorded. Among the casualties are campers and staff from Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ camp overwhelmed by surging floodwaters from the Guadalupe River early Friday morning. Authorities confirmed that ten girls and one camp counsellor remain missing.
In addition to the fatalities in Kerr County, five deaths were reported in Travis County, three in Burnet County, two each in Williamson and Kendall counties, and one in Tom Green County. Officials warn that the figures could rise as conditions complicate rescue efforts.
Eighteen adults and ten children recovered from the waters in Kerr County have yet to be formally identified.
Rescue teams, supported by volunteers and special operations units, are operating under treacherous conditions, navigating debris, unstable terrain, and wildlife hazards such as venomous snakes. With a new storm system expected in the next 24 to 48 hours, the mission is gradually shifting from rescue to recovery.
Governor Greg Abbott, who toured the devastated region over the weekend, called the scenes “horrific” and pledged full government support. “We will stop at nothing to bring every missing person home,” he said.
The disaster struck swiftly, with the Guadalupe River rising an astonishing 26 feet in just 45 minutes while most campers were still asleep. Among those confirmed dead is Camp Mystic’s long-time director, Richard “Dick” Eastland.
Search efforts remain focused on areas surrounding the camp, which has been reduced to rubble. Greg Froelick, a former Navy SEAL now volunteering with the rescue group 300 Justice, reported that some victims had been discovered up to eight miles downstream. “We’re seeing clothing and items from the camp’s dressers scattered up and down the river,” he said.
Uncertainty persists over how many others may have been camping near the riverbanks for Fourth of July celebrations and could have been swept away by the flash floods.
The road linking Kerrville to the camp now bears signs of the devastation — damaged homes, downed power lines, uprooted trees, and strewn debris paint a sobering picture of a community left in mourning.
As the search continues, officials have urged residents to remain alert and heed weather advisories as fresh rainfall could exacerbate the already dire situation.
