logo
Youth camp confirms 27 dead as Texas flood toll nears 90

Youth camp confirms 27 dead as Texas flood toll nears 90

Time of India2 days ago
HUNT: Rescuers in Texas searched Monday for bodies swept away by flash floods that killed almost 90 people, including 27 girls and counselors at a summer camp that was destroyed by torrents of water.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The United States was shocked at the disaster over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, and forecasters warned of more flooding as rain falls on saturated ground.
"Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy,"
Camp Mystic
said in a statement confirming the 27 deaths at the all-girls camp that was located next to a river.
State officials on Monday put the overall number of dead from the flooding at 88, and Texas Senator Ted Cruz told reporters that the toll was continuing to rise.
"Texas is grieving right now -- the pain, the shock of what has transpired these last few days has broken the heart of our state," Cruz told reporters.
"The children, little girls, who were lost at Camp Mystic, that's every parent's nightmare."
Camps are a beloved tradition in the long US summer holidays, with children often staying in woods, parks and other rural areas.
Cruz described them as a chance to make "lifetime friends -- and then suddenly it turns to tragedy."
President Donald Trump has said he may visit Texas later this week, but brushed off concerns his cuts to weather forecasting and related federal agencies had weakened warning systems.
Instead, he described the floods in the early hours of Friday as a "100-year catastrophe" that "nobody expected."
Grim search
Trump, who previously said disaster relief should be handled at the state level, signed a major disaster declaration, activating fresh federal funds and freeing up resources.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Helicopters and boats were taking part in the search across an area popular with tourists as well as summer camps.
Camp Mystic was an all-girl Christian camp where about 750 people had been staying when the floodwaters struck.
In a terrifying display of nature's power, the rain-swollen waters of the Guadalupe River reached treetops and the roofs of cabins as girls at the camp slept.
Blankets, teddy bears and other belongings were caked in mud.
Windows in the cabins were shattered, apparently by the force of the water.
"We've recovered 75 deceased bodies here in Kerr County, including 48 adults and 27 children," County Sheriff Larry Leitha told reporters Monday. At least 13 other deaths were confirmed in the state.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott warned that more heavy rainfall could bring further flooding, as officials cautioned people to avoid still-raging rivers.
'Flash Flood Alley'
Months' worth of rain fell in a matter of hours on Thursday night into Friday, and rain has continued in bouts since then.
The Guadalupe surged around 26 feet (eight meters) -- more than a two-story building -- in just 45 minutes.
Flash floods, which occur when the ground is unable to absorb torrential rainfall, are not unusual in this region of south and central Texas, known colloquially as "Flash Flood Alley."
Human-driven climate change has made extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and heat waves more frequent and more intense in recent years.
"There's debris all over the place that makes roads impassable, that makes reconstruction projects unachievable," Abbott said.
People from elsewhere in the state converged on Kerr County to help look for the missing.
Some residents also flew personal drones to help look, but officials urged them to stop, citing a danger to rescue aircraft.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘Backbone of city': Philadelphia union workers end strike; reach ‘historic deal' with city
‘Backbone of city': Philadelphia union workers end strike; reach ‘historic deal' with city

Time of India

time11 hours ago

  • Time of India

‘Backbone of city': Philadelphia union workers end strike; reach ‘historic deal' with city

AP file photo Philadelphia officials said on Wednesday that the city has reached a deal with a union representing thousands of city workers and have ended a strike that had lasted for more than a week and disrupted curbside trash pickup and other services. Nearly 10,000 blue-collar workers had walked off the job on July 1 as a sign of protest demanding better pay and benefits, after a new contract with the city had fallen through, as reported by AP. 'The work stoppage involving the District Council 33 and the City of Philadelphia is OVER,' posted mayor Cherelle Parker, a pro-labor democrat, marking the end of the strike. 'We have reached a tentative agreement with District Council 33, which must be ratified by its membership on a new three-year contract that, coupled with the one-year contract extension we agreed to last fall, will increase DC 33 members' pay by 14 percent over my four years in office,' she added. 'We'll have much more to say about this historic deal,' said Parker at City Hall. 'We did the best we could with the circumstances we had in front of us,' remarked union president Greg Boulware, speaking with reporters after the deal had been agreed on. The tentative agreement was announced on what would have been the strike's ninth day. The walkout, which spanned the Fourth of July holiday weekend, led to a growing trash backlog, with some drop-off centers overflowing. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like A cancer that is stuck to her kidney, help my baby girl! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo 'Keep your holiday plans. Don't leave the city,' Parker had said. She had promised that the 4th of July celebrations would continue as usual. Last week, judges ruled in the city's favor, ordering certain essential employees, such as those at 911 centers, the water department, and the airport, back to work. District Council 33, the largest of the city's four main unions, represents a wide range of workers, including 911 dispatchers, trash collectors, and water department staff. Police and firefighters were not involved in the strike. 'The city has the money to pay us, we are the backbone of the city,' Dhafir Gerald, 48, a library security guard, had said last week, as reported by AP. The initial contract proposed by the Union leaders had asked for 8 percent annual raises, every year of the three-year contract, along with a hike in cost of living and bonuses upto $5,000 for those workers who had worked during the pandemic. The union also pushed for the city to cover the full cost of employee health care, $1,700 per person each month. In November, a strike was avoided in the city's transit system after both sides agreed to a one-year contract that included 5% raises.

State orders probe into religious conversions, crackdown on unauthorised churches in Nandurbar
State orders probe into religious conversions, crackdown on unauthorised churches in Nandurbar

Indian Express

time12 hours ago

  • Indian Express

State orders probe into religious conversions, crackdown on unauthorised churches in Nandurbar

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday issued orders for an inquiry into religious conversions and also promised action against all unauthorised churches in the tribal-dominated district of Nandurbar. Responding to a question raised by MLAs Gopichand Padalkar and Anup Agrawal, Bawankule affirmed the government's commitment to protecting the cultural and religious identity of tribals. Nandurbar is designated as a Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, with the objective of safeguarding the interests of the Bhil and Pawra tribes. However, MLA Padalkar stated in the Assembly that particularly in Navapur taluka, Christian missionaries and converted individuals are luring tribals and non-tribals into conversions through inducements and incentives. He further alleged that over 150 unauthorised churches have been constructed on village and government lands without permissions from the gram panchayat or the home department. In his reply, Revenue Minister Bawankule stated, 'Immediate action will be taken against unauthorised church constructions in Nandurbar. As per government orders dated May 5, 2011, and May 7, 2018, churches built without permission will be removed.' He further announced that discussions will be held with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, a study of stringent laws regarding conversions will be done. A high-level inquiry has been ordered, and a survey of all unauthorised religious structures will be completed within six months. Action will be taken in accordance with Supreme Court rulings and regulations, Bawankule clarified. Additionally, a thorough study of conversion cases will be conducted to consider implementing strict laws.

Philadelphia strike ends: Union wins tentative deal after 9 days of chaos
Philadelphia strike ends: Union wins tentative deal after 9 days of chaos

Hindustan Times

time13 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

Philadelphia strike ends: Union wins tentative deal after 9 days of chaos

A union representing thousands of city workers in Philadelphia and the city have reached a deal to end a more than weeklong strike that halted residential curbside trash pickup and affected other services, officials said Wednesday. Trash is cleaned up at a drop-off site in Philadelphia as thousands of city workers remained on strike Tuesday.(AP) Nearly 10,000 blue-collar employees from District Council 33 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees had walked off the job July 1, seeking better pay and benefits after failing to agree with the city on a new contract. The tentative agreement was announced on what would have been the ninth day of the strike. That period, which included the Fourth of July holiday weekend, created a backlog of trash. Some drop-off centers were overflowing. Mayor Cherelle Parker announced the end of the strike and the agreement with the union on social media. 'The work stoppage involving the District Council 33 and the City of Philadelphia is OVER,' she posted. 'We have reached a tentative agreement with District Council 33, which must be ratified by its membership on a new three-year contract that, coupled with the one-year contract extension we agreed to last fall, will increase DC 33 members' pay by 14 per cent over my four years in office.' Parker said, 'We'll have much more to say about this historic deal' at City Hall. District Council 33 is the largest of four major unions representing city workers. Its membership includes 911 dispatchers, trash collectors, water department workers and many others. Police and firefighters weren't part of the strike. Last week, judges had sided with the city in ordering some critical employees back to work at the city's 911 centres, water department and airport. 'The strike is over! Details forthcoming,' the union posted on Facebook Wednesday morning. Union President Greg Boulware briefly spoke with reporters after the deal was reached. 'We did the best we could with the circumstances we had in front of us,' he said. The city had designated about 60 sites as drop-off centers for residential trash, but some were overflowing, while striking workers on hand asked residents not to cross the picket line. Most libraries across the city are were closed, with support workers and security guards off the job.A union representing thousands of city workers in Philadelphia and the city have reached a deal to end a more than weeklong strike that halted residential curbside trash pickup and affected other services, officials said Wednesday. Nearly 10,000 blue-collar employees from District Council 33 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees had walked off the job July 1, seeking better pay and benefits after failing to agree with the city on a new contract. The tentative agreement was announced on what would have been the ninth day of the strike. That period, which included the Fourth of July holiday weekend, created a backlog of trash. Some drop-off centers were overflowing. Mayor Cherelle Parker announced the end of the strike and the agreement with the union on social media. 'The work stoppage involving the District Council 33 and the City of Philadelphia is OVER,' she posted. 'We have reached a tentative agreement with District Council 33, which must be ratified by its membership on a new three-year contract that, coupled with the one-year contract extension we agreed to last fall, will increase DC 33 members' pay by 14 percent over my four years in office.' Parker said, 'we'll have much more to say about this historic deal' at City Hall. District Council 33 is the largest of four major unions representing city workers. Its membership includes 911 dispatchers, trash collectors, water department workers and many others. Police and firefighters weren't part of the strike. Last week, judges had sided with the city in ordering some critical employees back to work at the city's 911 centers, water department and airport. 'The strike is over! Details forthcoming,' the union posted on Facebook Wednesday morning. Union President Greg Boulware briefly spoke with reporters after the deal was reached. 'We did the best we could with the circumstances we had in front of us,' he said. The city had designated about 60 sites as drop-off centers for residential trash, but some were overflowing, while striking workers on hand asked residents not to cross the picket line. Most libraries across the city are were closed, with support workers and security guards off the job.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store