Camp Mystic says 27 children and staff dead in Texas floods – DW – 07/07/2025
The summer camp hit by flash floods in Texas said Monday that 27 campers and counselors had died, while state officials put the overall death toll from the disaster at more than 80.
Officials have said the death toll is sure to rise, with the risk of life-threatening flooding still high in central Texas and more rain on the way.
"Camp Mystic is grieving the loss of 27 campers and counselors following the catastrophic flooding on the Guadalupe River,' the camp said in a statement.
"We have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls."
"We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from community, first responders, and officials at every level."
Swollen by predawn torrential downpours, the Guadalupe River turned into a deadly torrent in less than an hour, cutting through the heart of the town of Kerrville.
Most of the deaths from Friday's devastating flash floods were concentrated along Kerrville's riverfront where 68 people were killed including 28 children, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said.
Camp Mystic, a nearly century-old Christian girls' summer retreat on the banks of the Guadalupe, was among the worst-hit sites.
The waters reached treetops and the roofs of cabins as girls slept overnight Friday, washing away some children and leaving a scene of devastation.
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The National Weather Service (NWS) warned Sunday that slow-moving thunderstorms could unleash more flash floods on the already-soaked heart of Texas.
Texas Governor Gregg Abbott said the heavy rain might "lead to potential flash flooding" in Kerrville and nearby towns, urging residents to steer clear of the swollen river and creeks.
Pressed on Sunday about whether federal budget cuts had weakened the disaster response or left key posts vacant at the NWS under his watch, Trump pushed back.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees FEMA and NOAA, admitted that a "moderate" flood watch issued Thursday by the NWS hadn't captured the brutal scale of the downpour. She insisted the Trump administration was working to modernize the system.
Joaquin Castro, a Democratic congressman from Texas, told CNN's "State of the Union" that short-staffing the weather service could spell danger.
"When you have flash flooding, there's a risk that if you don't have the personnel ... to do that analysis, do the predictions in the best way, it could lead to tragedy," Castro said.
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