In the United States, torrential rains hit the center of Texas on the night of Thursday to Friday, causing floods of exceptional violence which have already left at least 13 dead and twenty missing. According to local authorities, these are young girls who participated in a “Summer Camp” (holiday camp). Unfortunately, the emergency services fear an even heavier assessment in the coming hours.
“For the moment, we have counted 13 deaths,” said Larry Leitha, a sheriff of Kerr County at a press conference on Friday. He warned that other victims could be discovered during research and rescue operations. The deputy governor of Texas, Dan Patrick, had mentioned earlier a provisional assessment of six to ten dead, “including children”, as well as twenty people who were missing.
A third of annual precipitation in 45 minutes
According to the authorities, the Guadalupe river, which crosses the region, experienced a meteoric rise of its level: “almost 300 millimeters of rain fell in just 45 minutes”, or about a third of the average annual precipitation of the county. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the river suddenly increased from 2 to more than 9 meters in a few hours.
Videos shared on social networks show houses, vehicles and trees carried away by the waves. At 4 a.m., residents of the county of Kerr were awakened by this unexpected deluge, even in a region yet familiar with floods. “It is the most dangerous river valley in the United States. But we had no reason to believe that it was going to be so violent, “said Rob Kelly, a local official.
Over 500 rescuers mobilized in the field
Governor Greg Abbott shared on X a spectacular video showing a helicopter rescue, where a rescuer extracts a person who is refugee at the top of a tree, surrounded by the waters. “Air rescue missions like this are carried out 24 hours a day. We will not stop until everyone has been found,” said Greg Abbott.
In total, some 500 rescuers are mobilized on the ground, supported by 14 helicopters. The Texas National Guard and the American Coast Guard have also been deployed to strengthen rescue operations.
Another wave of precipitation expected
Texas Director of Public Security, Freeman Martin, warned that the situation could still deteriorate: “The rain has calmed down, but we know another wave is coming,” he warned. The authorities are particularly concerned about the regions of San Antonio and Austin, where new precipitation is expected.
Our file on the United States
The national meteorological service has issued a flood alert for the County Center-South Center, calling on the inhabitants to stay there and, for those living near the Guadalupe river, to take refuge “in height”. This disaster barely comes three weeks after the deadly floods of San Antonio, which had already claimed the lives of ten people. Texas, more and more confronted with extreme climatic episodes, faces a dramatic repetition of sudden floods in the heart of summer.
