Tragedy in Texas: death toll from floods surpasses 40 and dozens remain missing.

247 - At least 43 people, including 15 children, died as a result of flash floods that hit central Texas on Friday (5). The tragedy occurred after an extreme storm rapidly raised the level of the Guadalupe River in the mountainous region known as Hill Country, about 140 kilometers northwest of San Antonio. The information was released by Reuters, which is following the rescue efforts in the region.

Local authorities warn that the death toll could still rise, as dozens of people remain missing. In Travis County alone, four deaths have been confirmed, with 13 people still unaccounted for. In Kendall County, another fatality was recorded. In total, more than 850 people have been rescued, many of them found clinging to trees or on the roofs of flooded houses.

One of the focuses of the rescue operations is Camp Mystic, a traditional Christian girls' camp with almost a hundred years of history, where about 700 girls were staying at the time of the flood. According to Kerrville's municipal manager, Dalton Rice, 27 girls are missing. "We know of 27 missing, but we're not going to speculate beyond that because we simply don't know," he stated in a press conference.

Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly declared the disaster “unexpected”: “We know rivers can rise, but nobody predicted something like this.” The river’s sudden rise reached almost nine meters after the rain dumped up to 38 centimeters of water in just a few hours—about half the volume the region receives over an entire year.

Sheriff Larry Leitha, also from Kerr County, reported that 17 of the bodies were still awaiting identification. The most critical situation was concentrated in the riverside area, where families were camping for the United States Independence Day celebrations. "We don't know how many people were in tents, trailers, or rented houses by the river," Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick told Fox News Live.

The scene is one of devastation. At Camp Mystic, cabins were completely submerged, beds and personal belongings were swept away by the mud, walls collapsed, and windows shattered. A few kilometers away, at Camp Heart O' the Hills, co-founder Jane Ragsdale died, although no campers were present as it was between shifts.

In Comfort, a town about 60 km downstream, trees up to 20 meters tall were uprooted by the force of the water, and roads were blocked by debris. Several single-lane bridges were destroyed, although the main highway between San Antonio and the region remained functional.

“Total shock. I’m still in shock today,” said Tonia Fucci, 52, a Pennsylvania native who was visiting her grandmother in the city. “You see the helicopters, the rescues, you know there are many missing children. You just want them to be found, but… it’s not going to be a happy ending. There’s no way anyone could survive the force of that water.”

Videos shared on social media show structures completely destroyed, with only the concrete foundations remaining, and rescuers forming human chains to pull people from the current.

US President Donald Trump expressed solidarity with the victims and praised the efforts of first responders: "Our brave first responders are on the scene doing what they do best," he declared on social media.

In a press conference, Texas Governor Greg Abbott stated that he had requested a federal disaster declaration, which would release emergency resources. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that the Trump administration would grant the request.

Noem also commented that the alert issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) on Thursday was for "moderate flooding," which did not reflect the severity of the event. Former NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) director Rick Spinrad stated that staff cuts at the agency compromise its ability to accurately predict extreme events.

“People’s ability to prepare for these storms is being compromised. This will inevitably lead to more loss of life and greater property damage,” Spinrad warned.

The tragedy in Texas exposes not only the destructive force of nature, but also weaknesses in disaster warning and response systems, amid an increasing frequency of extreme weather events worldwide. The search for missing persons continues this Sunday, with volunteers, firefighters and armed forces mobilized to try to save lives amidst the rubble.