Flash floods swept through Texas Hill Country early Friday morning, claiming at least 27 lives and leaving more than two dozen girls missing from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp in Kerr County. The sudden deluge was triggered by intense rainfall that caused the Guadalupe River to rise more than 26 feet in under two hours, according to local authorities.
Officials reported that among the 27 confirmed dead are nine children and 18 adults, with several victims yet to be identified. The disaster struck without warning, with alerts issued around 4 to 5 a.m. as floodwaters surged through communities and campgrounds along the river.
Camp Mystic, located in the town of Hunt, was hosting approximately 750 children at the time of the flooding. Between 23 and 27 campers remain unaccounted for. Families have turned to social media to share updates, while rescue teams continue to search for survivors using helicopters, drones, and boats.
Dalton Rice, city manager of Kerrville, described the intensity of the flooding as unprecedented, noting it unfolded “over a very short period of time” and was impossible to predict, even with radar. He added that rainfall overwhelmed both the north and south forks of the Guadalupe River, causing water levels to surge from 7 to 29 feet within minutes.
More than 850 individuals have been rescued, including several airlifted from flooded areas. Colonel Freeman Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, reported that over 100 troopers were mobilized with specialized equipment such as high-water vehicles, boats, and dive teams to support the recovery operations.
Camp Mystic’s statement, read aloud during a news conference, described the flooding as “catastrophic.” The camp remains without power, water, or Wi-Fi, and access roads have been washed out, hampering relief efforts.
President Donald Trump expressed condolences on social media, stating that he and Melania Trump were “praying for all the families impacted” and commended the first responders for being on-site and doing “what they do best,” ending his message with, “GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS.”
Search and recovery efforts are ongoing, with state and federal officials coordinating support. Authorities continue to urge non-residents to avoid traveling to the affected areas as the risk of additional flooding remains high.
