Deadly Texas Floods Claim 78 Lives As Search Intensifies for Missing Campers

At least 78 people have been confirmed dead following catastrophic flash floods across central and southern Texas, as emergency crews race to locate dozens of missing individuals many of them children swept away by rapidly rising waters.

Officials say the worst-hit area is Kerr County, where 40 adults and 28 children have lost their lives. Another 10 fatalities were recorded in surrounding regions, bringing the confirmed death toll to 78. State officials warn that number could rise.

“We expect the death toll to increase today,” said Texas Public Safety Director Freeman Martin at a press briefing. “There are currently 41 people unaccounted for across the affected areas.”

The flooding began on the Fourth of July weekend, as unprecedented overnight rainfall overwhelmed the region, causing rivers like the Guadalupe to rise by as much as 26 feet in under an hour.

A desperate search continues for ten girls and one counselor from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp in Hunt, Texas, where nearly 750 campers were present when floodwaters engulfed the site early Friday morning. Cabins were destroyed, personal belongings were buried in mud, and at least one young girl’s body was found trapped in a tree.

Helicopters and search teams are scouring the area, with volunteers from across the state joining the effort. Authorities have urged private drone operators to stay grounded to avoid interfering with aerial rescue missions.

President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters on Sunday, said he “probably” would visit Texas on Friday, but deflected criticism regarding his administration’s significant budget cuts to the National Weather Service and emergency agencies like FEMA.

Calling the flooding a “100-year catastrophe,” Trump said it was “a Biden setup,” and insisted he would not rehire meteorologists or reverse plans to scale down FEMA’s role in disaster relief. “FEMA is something we can talk about later,” he said.

Despite his earlier stance that disaster response should be handled at the state level, Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Texas, unlocking federal support.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott emphasized that while rescue operations are still underway, recovery and debris removal efforts have begun. He warned residents to stay away from dangerous riverbanks and creeks, with more storms forecast to hit already saturated areas.

“This is a deeply tragic moment for Texas,” Abbott said. “But our first priority remains rescuing the missing and helping affected communities begin the long road to recovery.”

Scientists have long warned that climate change is intensifying extreme weather events. Central Texas known as “Flash Flood Alley” is especially vulnerable, and experts say more investments are needed in early-warning systems and infrastructure.

As families wait anxiously for news, volunteers like Justin Morales, who discovered three bodies including one of the missing girls, say they’re motivated by the hope of offering closure.

“Finding someone’s loved one can mean everything,” Morales said.