Floods in Texas give at least 24 dead and twenty missing

Devastating floods, caused by torrential rains, left at least 24 dead, including children, and around twenty missing in Texas, in the south of the United States, according to a new assessment established on Friday by the local authorities.

I can confirm that we have about 24 deadsaid at a Larry Lethia press conference, the Sheriff of Kerr County. A previous assessment reported at least 13 dead, including children and twenty missing in the sudden flood of the Guadalupe river.

We are without news of around twenty Of children out of the 750 who participated in a summer camp for girls, said Dan Patrick, the Deputy Governor of Texas, during a press conference.

This does not mean that they are among the victims, they could be in a tree or without communication.

The deputy governor read a message from the director of the summer camp saying that he had suffered floods of a catastrophic level and not have no electricity, no water, nor Wi-Fi.

According to the authorities, the level of the Guadalupe river, which crosses the area, has mounted Almost 300 millimeters in 45 minutes During the night, a third of the average annual precipitation in Kerr County.

Videos broadcast on social networks show houses and trees carried away by the flood.

The most dangerous river valley in the United States

An official of the County of Kerr, Rob Kelly, underlined the sudden nature of these floods which occurred around 4 am in this region however used to this type of phenomena.

We have floods all the time. It is the most dangerous river valley in the United Stateshe said. But We had no reason to believe that it was going to be something like what happened.

The Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, published on X a video which shows the rescue of a refugee person at the top of a tree by a rescuer suspended from a helicopter above tumultuous waters.

Air rescue missions like this are carried out 24 hours a day. We will not stop until everyone has been foundsaid Mr. Abbott.

About 500 rescuers and 14 helicopters were deployed, while the Texas National Guard and the United States Coast Guard sent reinforcements.

The rain has calmed down, but we know that another wave is comingWarm the Director of Public Security of Texas, Freeman Martin, stressing that precipitation was also expected in the areas of San Antonio and Austin.

According to the American ocean and atmospheric observation agency (NOAA), the level of the Guadalupe river rose suddenly overnight, from 2 meters to more than 9 meters, after precipitation.

The weather services have launched an flood alert for the County Center-South Center, calling on the inhabitants to avoid any trip and those who live near the Guadalupe river to surrender Towards areas in height.

In mid-June, at least ten people had perished due to floods in San Antonio, also in Texas, following torrential rains.

Furthermore, in the New Jerseyat least two people were killed by the fall of a tree on their vehicle during a violent storm In this northeast state, local police said.