List of missing in Texas floods adds uncertainty to search for survivors
FILE PHOTO: People take part in the search and rescue operation looking for missing people by the Guadalupe River, in Hunt, Texas, U.S. July 9, 2025. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo
KERRVILLE, Texas - Six days after flash floods swept through parts of Texas Hill Country and killed at least 120, authorities say there are still more than 160 people unaccounted for, as thousands of searchers combed through piles of mud-covered debris for survivors on Thursday.
But that figure may not reflect the true number of missing people, according to disaster response experts.
The number of people reported missing in the aftermath of a natural disaster often turns out to be far greater than the eventual death toll. Worried members of the public, unable to reach a relative or friend, report the name to local authorities and to crowd-sourced online databases, and it gets added to a list that can grow distressingly long.
In the first days after the devastating wildfire in the California mountain town of Paradise in 2018, the number of people missing briefly exceeded 1,200. It took two weeks for local officials to recover all the victims, and many months more for them to account for every person reported missing.
In total, the fire killed 85 people, still the deadliest wildfire in the state's history.
More than two weeks after a wildfire destroyed Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui in 2023, the FBI said there were still more than 1,000 names on its list of the missing. The following summer, officials put the final death toll at 102.
Josh Dozor, a former deputy assistant administrator at the Federal Emergency Management Agency and now an executive at the disaster response company International SOS, said the list of missing people could still change significantly.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Business S'pore to launch new grant for companies, expand support for workers amid US tariff uncertainties
Singapore Up to 90% of air-con units can be recycled, including greenhouse gas refrigerant
Singapore KTPH trials 'smart diapers' for adult patients to prevent skin conditions, relieve burden on nurses
Singapore Singaporean fugitive nabbed and charged with drug trafficking, may face death penalty
Sport World Aquatics C'ships Singapore 2025 declared open by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam
World 'Do some homework': 6 key exchanges between US Senator Duckworth and S'pore envoy nominee Sinha
Multimedia 60 objects to mark SG60: Which is your favourite?
Singapore CPF Board uses AI to improve call centre services, prioritise help for less tech-savvy users
"There could be people listed as missing who don't even know they're on the list," he said. "There are power issues, someone might not have a cell phone charged. People are at shelters. It could take time to reassemble with loved ones."
Kerr County, home to the vast majority of victims and missing people, is a sprawling, rural county with areas that have spotty cell phone service.
More than 2,100 first responders were continuing a painstaking, mile-by-mile search across the country, hoping against long odds to find survivors six days after torrential rains sent a wall of water raging down the Guadalupe River in the predawn hours of July 4.
Authorities have not found anyone alive since the day of the floods.
At least 96 people, including 36 children, died in Kerr County, officials said at a briefing on Thursday morning.
The death toll includes 27 campers and staff members from Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer retreat on the banks of the river. Five girls and one counselor from the camp remain missing, officials said.
"The length of time to find someone still alive after a summertime flash flood is a lot longer than, say, a winter storm or an earthquake, but the chances here are diminishing," Dozor said on Thursday.
'FLASH FLOOD ALLEY'
Kerr County sits at the heart of what is known as Flash Flood Alley in central Texas, a region where some of the country's deadliest floods have occurred.
More than a foot of rain fell in less than an hour early on July 4. Flood gauges showed the river's height rose from about a foot to 34 feet (10.4 meters) in a matter of hours, cascading over the river's banks and sweeping away trees and structures in its path.
Hundreds of community members gathered at a worship service at Tivy High School in Kerrville on Wednesday to remember the victims.
Students and adults prayed and sang, with some hugging and holding back their tears during the memorial.
The school's soccer coach, Reece Zunker, and his wife, Paula, a former teacher there, were among the victims. Their two children were missing as of Sunday, according to the school district.
"Zunker was a really tough guy," said art teacher Marti Garcia, who attended Wednesday's event. "I just had faith that he was going to pull it out."
Authorities in Kerr County have faced questions about whether more could have been done in the early hours of July 4 to alert residents about the rising floodwaters and get some of them to higher ground.
The state legislature will convene in a special session later this month to investigate the flooding and provide disaster-relief funding.
Meanwhile, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham told reporters on Thursday that after talks with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, federal authorities had pledged $15 million in disaster relief for the mountain village of Ruidoso, where flash flooding on Tuesday killed three people, including two children, and damaged hundreds of homes.
Some $12 million of the federal disaster funding is money previously pledged, but never paid, to build levees to protect the community from flash floods after wildfires last year, Lujan Grisham said. REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Master's in practice: How special needs educator enhances teaching
Newcastle Australia Institute of Higher Education's globally ranked programmes adapt to Singapore's market needs, while flexible schedules and study grants make upskilling easier for working adults Ms Lun Wei Shi (right), special needs educator at Extraordinary People, helps students like Thaddeus Chew – pictured here with his painting completed live at a community event – find their voice and earn an income through their art. Special needs educator Lun Wei Shi often relies on her handmade 'communication charts' – simple boards with visual icons – to help her students express themselves better. For example, if a student needs to wash their hands, they can point to the corresponding icon. Similarly, Ms Lun can do the same to make sure her instructions are understood clearly. This simple tool supports clearer expression, helping bridge the gap between thoughts and words for people with autism, when everyday communication may feel challenging. It is one of the many practical aids the 33-year-old has designed, after completing the Supporting Communication module in the Master of Special and Inclusive Education offered by the Newcastle Australia Institute of Higher Education (Newcastle Australia). The school, established in Singapore in 2006, is the Asia Pacific hub of the University of Newcastle in Australia (UON). Ms Lun's handmade 'communication charts' display clear visuals for her students to refer to and express their needs with confidence. PHOTO: COURTESY OF LUN WEI SHI 'Australian universities are known for their strengths in the special education sector, and I was considering moving there for studies,' recalls Ms Lun, who is the programme manager and associate psychologist at Extraordinary People, a local charity. The charity supports children and youth with special needs, and she runs its Creative Lab, which aims to empower those with artistic talent to earn a living through their works. When Ms Lun researched her options, she discovered the part-time programme by Newcastle Australia. It appealed to her with its comprehensive theoretical learning and hands-on approach to coursework that ties closely to her day-to-day work. 'A very big factor for me in choosing Newcastle Australia was that its programme is curated for people in the sector. Although it's a programme from Australia, the lecturers have a wealth of knowledge about the Singaporean education system and social service sector,' she adds. 'They are also very intentional in curating our assignments to think about how the various theoretical approaches can be applied in Singapore.' Another tool – a visual schedule – Ms Lun developed shows her students what to expect at different times in class, so they can manage transitions with less anxiety. PHOTO: COURTESY OF LUN WEI SHI Furthermore, Ms Lun was able to tap a study grant that paid a significant portion of her course fees. The grant, which varies, is open to all students enrolled in the institute's master's programmes. For Ms Buanesvari Paarvati, 33, her family's sole breadwinner, the grant encouraged her to enrol in the Master of Business Psychology . The part-time programme is equipping her with the skills to apply psychological theory to real-world leadership and team management at Samaritans of Singapore, a suicide prevention agency, where she is an assistant manager. 'The programme's focus on applied psychology in organisations, such as assessment, change management and leadership, resonated with my professional interests and offered insights I felt could be valuable across various workplace settings,' she explains. Her course is ranked second in Australia for overall satisfaction by graduates, according to the latest Australian government-funded Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021-2023 . At Samaritans of Singapore, assistant manager Buanesvari Paarvati leads a team that provides crisis support to those in need. PHOTO: COURTESY OF BUANESVARI PAARVATI Both Ms Lun and Ms Buanesvari value the flexibility provided by the university, without which it would have been challenging to juggle classes with their unpredictable work schedules. 'If we cannot be physically in the classroom, we can Zoom in,' says Ms Buanesvari, who works shifts. 'The lectures are recorded if we miss a class, and the lecturers are very understanding and give us some leeway with deadlines if unexpected work comes up.' Ms Lun has also been able to balance work and study in the special education sector, where working on weekends is common. 'There've been times when I had to leave early or miss a morning class, so being able to catch up with the recorded sessions really helps,' she says. Such practical support, in addition to the institute's trusted reputation, gives working adults like Ms Lun and Ms Buanesvari the confidence to commit to part-time studies while working full time. Credibility that opens doors In the QS World University Rankings 2025, UON was named as one of the top 250 universities globally, securing the 179th spot. Twelve of its subjects ranked in the top 200 internationally in their respective fields. Moreover, 95 per cent of UON's research is 'at or above world standard', according to the independent Australian government-led Excellence in Research for Australia Report . One example is its Master of Environmental Management and Sustainability , which includes United Nations (UN)-certified modules. These give a boost to those aiming to work in multinational firms, global agencies, or cross-border green finance and sustainability reporting. Times Higher Education also ranks UON's commitment to sustainability and climate action among the top 40 universities in the world for impact, adding to the school's credibility. The ranking is based on how the universities are progressing towards the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. UON has embedded sustainability across its operations and programmes, from supporting research into green energy to shifting away from single-use plastic. As Singapore races to meet its net-zero emissions target by 2050, local demand for sustainability professionals is surging too . With the master's programme, students acquire practical knowledge and credentials increasingly sought after by employers. Beyond sustainability, Newcastle Australia also offers programmes that build capabilities in Singapore's fast-evolving healthcare sector. Its Master of Health Economics, Management and Policy is run by its Newcastle Business School, which is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. This globally recognised accreditation is held by only five per cent of business schools worldwide. Besides gaining in-demand skills to tackle modern healthcare system challenges, Singapore's current and budding healthcare leaders and analysts who take up the master's programme can earn internationally-respected credentials, improving their career prospects. Ms Buanesvari hopes her master's will help her step into senior leadership roles in the social service sector, where she aims to make a bigger impact. PHOTO: COURTESY OF BUANESVARI PAARVATI Ms Lun and Ms Buanesvari are already excited for the opportunities that their respective qualifications will open up for them. 'Having a master's degree is really helpful in honing the trust that others have in you and the work that you are doing as an educator,' Ms Lun notes. Ms Buanesvari, who aspires to take on a key leadership position in the social service sector, adds: 'Beyond the knowledge itself, the master's degree shows a commitment to developing myself. 'It positions me better for senior roles in the future, where I can lead larger teams or even contribute to the strategic planning within the sector. I see it as a stepping stone for me to make a better impact within the sector.'
Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Straits Times
Avoid water activities around Tuas Second Link, Raffles Marina after chemical tank accident: NEA
Find out what's new on ST website and app. A tank of chemicals fell off a lorry into the sea at Tanjung Kupang near Gelang Patah in Malaysia. SINGAPORE – The public should avoid primary water contact activities like swimming and recreational fishing in the waters around Tuas Second Link, including areas around Raffles Marina, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) on July 24. NEA gave this precautionary advice after an accident on the Malaysian side of the Second Link bridge involving two heavy tankers, which resulted in a chemical tank containing propylene glycol falling into the sea . In a post on Facebook, NEA said it was alerted by its Malaysian counterparts about the accident on the evening of July 24. NEA said it understands that the other tanker remained intact, with no chemical spill on the bridge. Primary contact activities are those where a person's whole body or face and trunk are frequently immersed, and it is likely that some water will be swallowed. They include wakeboarding, windsurfing and water immersion training. Propylene glycol is not classified as a hazardous substance and is biodegradable. The chemical is commonly used in food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, said NEA. However, propylene glycol may cause low dissolved oxygen levels in the Lim Chu Kang fish farming zone, said NEA. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia 11 Thai civilians killed as Thai and Cambodian militaries clash at disputed border: Reports Asia Singapore urges all parties in Thailand-Cambodia border dispute to exercise restraint Asia Deadly Thai-Cambodian dispute puts Asean's relevance on the line Singapore Technology can help efforts to shift healthcare delivery towards the community: Ong Ye Kung Singapore Khatib Camp to make way for housing, with its functions moving to Amoy Quee Camp Singapore Mindef to set up new volunteer management unit to grow volunteer pool Singapore Primary 1 registration: 29 schools to conduct ballot in Phase 2B It added that the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has alerted fish farms in the area to be vigilant and have mitigation measures on standby. They should also notify SFA if there are abnormal fish and water conditions. Singapore's desalination plants are currently not affected, and national water agency PUB is monitoring the seawater intake at the plants closely, NEA said. NEA and other agencies are in close communication with their Malaysian counterparts, added the agency. It is also actively monitoring water quality in the affected area. Iskandar Puteri Fire and Rescue station chief Mohd Faiz Suleiman said an accident involving two lorries carrying propylene glycol had caused a tanker from one of the lorries to plunge into the sea from the Second Link bridge. He added that the fire department in Johor was alerted to the incident at about 5.40pm on July 24, and seven firemen and a Fire Rapid Tender vehicle were deployed to the scene, reported Malaysian daily The Star. There was no contamination in the waters where the tanker fell into the sea, and there were no signs of leaks from the tankers involved in the lorry accident, said Mr Mohd Faiz. A video posted on social media on July 24 shows a moving tanker hitting another tanker that appears to be stationary. After impact, the moving tanker tips towards the edge of the bridge, sending the tank it is carrying into the sea. The incident comes just a day after NEA held a chemical spill exercise at Tuas Second Link with Malaysia's Department of Environment and other agencies. The exercise was part of a bilateral cooperation programme under the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Committee on the Environment. All three lanes of the Singapore to Malaysia-bound carriageway on Tuas Second Link were closed to vehicular traffic from 5am to 2pm on July 23 for the exercise.
Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Straits Times
Tank of chemicals falls into sea near Tuas Second Link in Johor; no chemical leak found
Find out what's new on ST website and app. A tank of chemicals fell off a lorry into the sea at Tanjung Kupang near Gelang Patah in Malaysia. JOHOR BAHRU - A team has been deployed to the Second Link Crossing as a tank of chemicals has fallen off a lorry and into the sea at Tanjung Kupang near Gelang Patah. Iskandar Puteri Fire and Rescue station chief Mohd Faiz Suleiman said seven firemen and a Fire Rapid Tender (FRT) vehicle were quickly deployed to the scene located about 16km from the station. He added that the Johor Fire and Rescue Department Operation Centre received the call on the incident on July 24 at 5.41pm. 'An accident involving two lorries carrying propylene glycol caused a tanker from one of the lorries to plunge into the sea from the bridge,' he said in a statement. There were no signs of leaks from the tankers involved in the lorry accident. Iskandar Puteri Fire and Rescue station chief Mohd Faiz Suleiman confirmed there was no contamination in the waters where a tanker containing propylene glycol fell into the sea. 'No leaks were found in the tanker containing sodium hypochlorite from the other lorry involved in the accident,' he said in a statement. The Hazardous Materials Unit (Hazmat) from the Larkin Fire and Rescue Station conducted the inspection. 'The team found no foam or oil on the sea surface, indicating no leaks from the propylene glycol tanker,' he added. The driver of the lorry carrying propylene glycol was taken to the Gelang Patah Health Clinic, while the other driver was unhurt. Operations are ongoing at KM0.8 of the North-South Expressway at the Second Link Crossing. The operation was led by Mohd Faiz and Senior Officer II Nurmala Sideli from the Iskandar Puteri Fire and Rescue Station, with 13 firemen and a Fire Rapid Tender vehicle. Propylene glycol is a colourless, nearly odourless thick liquid used in processed products to maintain consistency, moisture, and texture. The chemical is typically made from petroleum, though some companies use plants like canola and soybean, and it's used in cosmetics, dog food, bath products, and medications. Sodium hypochlorite, commonly known as bleach, is a clear, slightly yellowish liquid with a chlorine odour, known for its potent antimicrobial properties and used widely for disinfecting and bleaching. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
