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78 Dead, Dozens Missing in Texas Floods as More Rain Threatens Recovery

 78 Dead, Dozens Missing in Texas Floods as More Rain Threatens Recovery

At least 78 people have died and 41 others remain missing after catastrophic flash floods hit central Texas on Friday, with Kerr County experiencing the worst devastation. Among the dead are 28 children, many of whom were attending Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ summer camp along the Guadalupe River. The river rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes before dawn, overwhelming the camp while most were asleep. Ten campers and a counselor are still missing.



The search and rescue effort—one of the largest in recent Texas history—is gradually shifting toward recovery. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who toured the area over the weekend, called the situation “horrific” and pledged that authorities would “stop at nothing” to find every missing person. Of the bodies recovered in Kerr County, 18 adults and 10 children have not yet been formally identified.

Rescue teams continue to battle treacherous conditions, including mud, debris, and venomous snakes, as more storms loom over the next 24 to 48 hours. Greg Froelick, a former Navy SEAL assisting with the search, said victims have been found up to eight miles downriver from the camp, with personal items scattered along the banks. Officials are also uncertain how many other holiday campers were in the area during the July 4th weekend.

The destruction extends beyond the campgrounds. A highway connecting Kerrville to Camp Mystic is now a scene of ruin, lined with wrecked homes, fallen trees, toppled fences, and downed utility lines. In response, President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration on Sunday, triggering federal aid through FEMA. He said he may visit Texas on Friday and described the flooding as “absolutely horrible.”

Amid the devastation, local residents are stepping up. Volunteers are offering food, shelter, and clothing to victims and rescue teams. Alma Garcia drove from San Antonio with home-cooked meals and even gave her T-shirt to a soaked resident. Perla, a Walmart employee, began collecting clothes after her shift ended on Friday and delivered them to a shelter the next morning.

Global condolences have poured in. In Rome, Pope Leo XIV offered prayers during Sunday Mass for the victims and their families, especially the young girls lost at Camp Mystic. “We pray for them,” he said, expressing heartfelt sympathy for the disaster-stricken community.

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