The death toll from catastrophic flash flooding in Texas Hill Country climbed to 70 on Sunday, as rescue teams continued searching for more than a dozen missing people — including 11 girls and a camp counselor swept away from a riverside summer camp.
Torrential rains that began late last week caused the Guadalupe River and surrounding waterways to surge more than 20 feet in just hours, submerging rural towns, sweeping away vehicles and cabins, and trapping campers and residents across multiple counties.
Authorities say many of the victims were caught off guard as water overtook low-lying areas with little warning. In Kerr County alone, 59 deaths have been confirmed, including 21 children, according to figures reported by Reuters. The overall confirmed death toll across multiple counties rose to 70 on Sunday, according to the Associated Press.
Among the hardest-hit areas was Camp Mystic, a girls’ summer camp on the Guadalupe River in Hunt, where floodwaters surged through cabins early Friday. Eleven girls and one counselor remain missing, local officials confirmed. Swift-water crews, drones, helicopters, and search dogs are continuing to scan flooded areas and debris along the riverbanks. More than 850 people have been rescued in total, according to state emergency officials cited by the AP.
“This is the worst flooding we’ve seen in more than a decade,” Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha told the Kerr County Lead. “Some areas are still inaccessible, and time is critical.”
Dozens of structures, including cabins and low-water crossings, were destroyed or washed away. Road closures remain widespread, especially in rural areas.
The National Weather Service has extended flash flood watches through midweek, warning that additional storms could worsen the situation. Residents are urged to avoid roadways and stay clear of rivers and creeks.
Gov. Greg Abbott toured the Camp Mystic area Saturday and issued a disaster declaration for affected counties. Emergency shelters have opened in schools and churches across the region.
“Turn around, don’t drown,” Leitha said, repeating the familiar warning as more rainfall looms.
UPDATE: To clarify the story as news continues to be confirmed from