The death toll from the devastating floods in the US state of Texas has risen to at least 67. This is reported by American media based on local authorities. Eleven girls from a summer camp in the region are still missing.
At least 59 people have died in Kerr County, including 38 adults and 21 children. According to the sheriff of the district, the identity of eighteen adults and four children has yet to be determined.
In Travis County, four people have died due to the floods. Three people died in Burnet County and one person in Kendall County, writes CNN. “We express our sincere condolences and pray for every family affected by this tragedy,” said the sheriff of Kerr County.
The search continues for eleven girls who were at Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp on the Guadelupe River, at the time of the floods. A camp counselor is also being sought. Earlier this weekend, reports emerged that 27 girls were missing. It is still unclear whether some of them have been found alive or have died.
It is known that five girls from the camp have died, but it is not clear whether they were included in the 27 missing earlier this weekend. It is also still unknown how many more people are missing.
Trump has declared the floods a ‘major disaster’
The Hill Country region in the state of Texas was hit by severe floods on the night of Thursday to Friday (local time). It rained so hard that the water level of the Guadalupe River rose meters within an hour. Campgrounds and campsites along the river were full. Because Friday was Independence Day in the United States, many Americans had a long weekend off.
There are many questions about how local authorities have handled weather warnings. The National Weather Service and AccuWeather had warned of the chance of flash floods, sudden floods after heavy rainfall. Hill Country is not called flash flood alley for nothing, because the water can rise so quickly there.
The highest elected official of Kerr County says that everyone was surprised by the heavy rain and the floods. “We know we get rain here, we know the river rises. But no one saw this coming.”
US President Donald Trump has declared the flood a major disaster so that aid workers “immediately get the resources they need.” He promised that his government will continue to work closely with local authorities. Trump emphasized that 850 people have now been rescued.