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In central Texas, catastrophic flash floods have claimed at least 109 lives, with 161 people still missing, according to Governor Greg Abbott. Speaking at a press conference in Kerrville, the worst-hit area, Abbott described the disaster as more devastating than Hurricane Harvey in terms of loss of life. Search and rescue operations, now in their fifth day, continue with urgency as authorities warn the number of missing could rise.
Among the victims are 27 girls and staff from Camp Mystic, a local girls' summer camp, with five children and one counsellor still unaccounted for. The floods, described by Abbott as a "30ft high tsunami wall of water," caught the region off-guard despite prior warnings of possible severe flooding. The governor acknowledged a flash flood warning was issued but said the storm's magnitude was unforeseen. Search efforts involve 258 responders, including Texas National Guard crews using 13 helicopters, including four Black Hawks from Arkansas, and Reaper drones. However, operations faced a setback when a Black Hawk helicopter was struck by a drone, forcing an emergency landing. Kerr County officials have since urged private and media drones to stay grounded to avoid disrupting rescue missions. The US State Department thanked Mexican emergency teams from Ciudad Acuña, who crossed the border to assist, locating at least one victim's body. President Donald Trump announced he will visit the devastated region with First Lady Melania Trump on Friday to assess the damage. Questions have been raised about the adequacy of flood warnings, with reporters pressing officials on the timeline of events. Kerr County Sheriff Leitha said a detailed timeline is being compiled but stressed the priority remains locating missing persons, identifying the deceased, and notifying families. A tense exchange saw officials accused of evading questions, with a Texas Game Warden reiterating the focus on rescue efforts. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, visibly emotional, recounted her visit to Camp Mystic, where she met grieving parents collecting their children’s belongings from the mud. She called for escorts or counsellors to support families at the site. Kerrville Police have urged residents to avoid non-essential travel to ease pressure on responders, noting the last known rescue of a survivor was on 4 July. Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows praised the state's resilience, highlighting community efforts in rescue and relief operations. Governor Abbott vowed, “We will not stop until every missing person is accounted for.” A further update is expected at 21:00 BST.
