At least 24 people are dead and 23 children are missing from a summer camp after flash flooding along the Guadalupe River in south-central Texas, US. About this informsReuters agency.
The US National Weather Service has declared a state of emergency for parts of Kerr County after heavy rains dumped as much as 12 inches.
City official Dalton Rice noted that the flood occurred before dawn, with virtually no warning, making evacuation impossible:
“It happened very quickly, in a very short period of time, which could not have been predicted even by radar. It all happened in less than two hours.”
The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the death of 24 people as a result of the natural disaster. At a press conference, Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick announced that the search is continuing for 23 girls who are believed to be missing among more than 700 children who were at the camp at the time of the flood around 4 a.m. local time.
The Guadalupe River rose 26 feet (about 8 meters) in 45 minutes due to the heavy downpour. To search for the missing, 14 helicopters, a dozen drones and hundreds of rescuers were used, who conducted operations among trees and rushing waters. Residential blocks, trailer parks and campsites suffered the greatest destruction.
“Additional rainfall is forecast for these areas. Even if the rain is light, further flooding is possible. The threat of flash flooding from San Antonio to Waco remains for the next 24-48 hours, and risks remain in west and central Texas.”, – emphasized Dan Patrick.
Employees of the US Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are involved in the liquidation of the consequences, which provide support to local authorities in overcoming the consequences of the disaster.
