Catastrophic floods in Texas, on Independence Day. Children who are missing from summer camps and at least five dead
On Independence Day, Texas was hit by catastrophic floods, resulting in at least five dead and more missing children from summer camps, while authorities make desperate efforts to save survivors.
Texas, under the Waters of Independence Day. Photo: video capture
Catastrophic floods hit Texas in the south of the United States, even during the July 4 holidays, causing the death of at least five people. Several children were missing, after the torrential rains turned the rivers into dangerous torrents, and the summer camps were isolated from the waters.
Rob Kelly, official of Kerr County, said that the exact number of victims remains uncertain for the time being, the authorities still trying to identify the deceased persons following the sudden flood wave who hit the area.
“It is a devastating and deadly situation,” he pointed out at a press conference.
Strong rains led to rapid increase in river levels and isolated several summer camps for children in the rural region. The water level on the Guadalupe river, which crosses the area, increased by over 6.7 meters in just a few hours, recording some of the largest odds in the history of the region, informs The Guardian.
Texas governor Greg Abbott announced that the state has mobilized all available resources to manage the emergency situation, including water rescue and national guard, and organized shelters for the evacuated people.
“The immediate priority is the saving of lives”, Abbott pointed out in a message on X.
In Kerrville, the residence of Kerr County, Mayor Joe Herring Jr. issued an official disaster statement on Friday morning, while the National Meteorology Service warned that there are extreme risks, urging the inhabitants to avoid roads and move on higher lands.
The roads in the area were seriously affected, and the landslides made the access of the intervention teams.
Children who are gone out of a flooded camp
The biggest concern is related to the children in the summer camps in the region, some of them being destroyed by water. At Camp Mystic, a summer camp for girls, it has been confirmed that some cottages have been flooded, and a few children are missing, according to the administrators. The access roads to the camp were destroyed, and the staff asked for emergency aid.
“We know that some children are missing, but we don't know exactly how many”, said Rob Kelly for a local news post, stressing that the authorities are making efforts to save people in danger.
The parents were informed if their children are safe, and the rest are urged to remain calm as the rescue teams continue the searches.
The floods came after a long period of drought that completely dry the soil, increasing the risk of rapid leakage and lightning floods. The National Meteorological Service has issued repeated warnings, stressing that the level of the Guadalu River increased from two to over nine meters in just a few hours.
In parallel, strong storms caused the death of at least three people in New Jersey, where two men died after a tree fell over the vehicle during the storm.
Texan authorities say that although the region is accustomed to floods, this episode was unexpectedly violent.
“We have frequent floods, but this is the most dangerous river valley in the United States, and this time, the disaster level has been unexpected.” Rob Kelly said.
According to meteorologists' warnings, it is expected that the rains will continue and the water level will increase, so the inhabitants were advised to stay in shelters until the situation stabilizes.
