A dramatic surge of floodwater along the Guadalupe River in central Texas has claimed at least 81 lives and left 41 people missing, with the disaster unfolding in the early hours of Friday.
Video footage capturing the moment the river rose 26 feet (8 meters) in just 45 minutes has highlighted the sudden and devastating nature of the flooding, which has ravaged the region, particularly Kerr County.
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The catastrophic event began before dawn on July 4, as torrential rains overwhelmed the river, catching residents and campers off guard.
Among the hardest-hit areas is Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls, where 10 campers and one counselor remain unaccounted for.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, addressing the crisis on Sunday, vowed that authorities would “stop at nothing” to locate every missing individual, with search and rescue operations continuing around the clock.
The rapid rise of the Guadalupe River, reaching its second-highest level on record, surpassed the severity of a 1987 flood and has left communities in shock.
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Over 850 people have been rescued, but the death toll is expected to rise as crews navigate debris-laden waters and brace for potential additional rainfall.
The governor’s declaration underscores the state’s commitment to the ongoing recovery effort amid one of the deadliest floods in recent U.S. history.