The death toll from the floods in the US state of Texas has risen to 27, including at least nine children. Local authorities announced this on Saturday. The search for the missing girls from a summer camp is still ongoing.
The nine deceased children are not the girls who were at summer camp and went missing after the floods. Local authorities say that 27 campers are still being searched for, reports The New York Times. Earlier, there was talk of 23 missing girls.
Rescuers are working hard to find missing persons, including the girls from the summer camp. Local administrator Dalton Rice warns that the situation can change quickly, especially when it comes to the search for the missing. “The information can change by the minute,” he said.
Heavy rainfall on the night of Thursday to Friday (local time) caused the water in the Guadalupe River to rise meters within an hour. This led to sudden floods, especially in the Kerr County district, more than 100 kilometers northwest of the city of San Antonio. At least eight hundred people have now been evacuated from the region.
Due to the unexpected and sudden rise in the water, authorities were unable to warn the population in time.
Deadly flooding in Texas leaves devastation
Flood warning in effect until Saturday evening
American weather services report that the chance of new, sudden floods is now a lot smaller in Kerr County. However, flood warnings remain in effect due to the predicted rain until Saturday 7:00 PM (local time).
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the federal government is supporting the administration of Texas and local authorities in the rescue work. “Melania (Trump’s wife and first lady, ed.) and I are praying for all the families affected by this terrible drama,” he wrote on social media. “Our brave first responders are on the scene to do what they do best.”