(Houston) Devastating floods, caused by torrential rains, left at least 24 dead, including children and twenty missing in Texas in the South of the United States, local authorities announced on Friday evening.
“I can confirm that at that time, we have approximately 24 dead,” said Kerr’s county’s county at a press conference Larry Lethia, later specifying that the balance sheet was well at 24 deaths.
A previous assessment reported at least 13 dead, including children and twenty missing in the sudden flood of the Guadalupe river, northwest of San Antonio.
“Children are still missing,” added the sheriff, adding that between 23 and 25 people had not yet been found.
The authorities are concerned in particular of the fate of some 750 children who participated in a summer camp for girls on the banks of the river.
PHOTO ERIC GAY, ASSOCIATED PRESS
A helicopter flies over the Guadalupe river after a sudden flood, Friday July 4, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas.
“This does not mean that they are part of the victims, they could be in a tree or without communication,” said Texas Deputy Governor Dan Patrick during a press conference.
The deputy governor read in front of the press a message from the director of the camp saying that he had undergone “floods of a catastrophic level” and have “neither electricity, nor water, nor wifi”.
According to the authorities, the level of the Guadalupe river, which crosses the area, rose approximately eight meters in 45 minutes in which it fell “nearly 300 millimeters/hour of rain, a third of the average annual precipitation of the county.
PHOTO ERIC GAY, ASSOCIATED PRESS
The damage caused along the Guadalupe river, Friday July 4, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas.
Videos broadcast on social networks show houses and trees carried away by the flood.
US President Donald Trump said he was “in shock” of these “terrible floods”.
Other precipitation expected
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 States, “he said. But “we had no reason to believe that it was going to be something like what happened”.
The Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, shared on X a video showing 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 found,” said Abbott.
PHOTO MICHEL FORTIER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Two people observe the area where dozens of caravans have been swept away by the rise in waters of the Guadalupe river.
About 500 rescuers and 14 helicopters were deployed, while the Texas National Guard and the Côtes guards sent reinforcements.
“It was hard to arrive at the scene because of the weather,” said Texas Public Security Director Freeman Martin. “But during the day it calmed down and we were able to do more rescues and research,” he added, adding that the operations would continue on Saturday.
“The rain has calmed down, but we know that another wave is coming,” warned Mr. Martin, precipitation also being expected in the areas of San Antonio and Austin. The weather services have issued a flood alert for the County Center-South Center, calling on the inhabitants to avoid travel and those living near the Guadalupe river to go “to areas in height”.
In mid-June, at least ten people had perished due to floods in San Antonio following torrential rains.
Sudden floods, caused by torrential rains that the dry soil cannot absorb, are not uncommon. But according to some scientists, climate change caused by human activity have made meteorological events more frequent and more intense such as floods, droughts and heat waves.
In addition, in New Jersey, at 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.
