Texas flash floods death toll climbs to 107
Texas
The death toll from flash floods that struck central Texas on Friday has now climbed to at least 107 people and an unknown number of others are missing.
Search and rescue teams are wading through mud-piled riverbanks as more rain and thunderstorms threaten the region, but hope was fading of finding any more survivors four days after the catastrophe.
Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls' summer camp, confirmed at least 27 girls and staff were among the dead. Five campers and one adult are still missing.
The White House meanwhile rejected suggestions that budget cuts at the National Weather Service (NWS) could have inhibited the disaster response.
At least 87 of the victims - 56 adults and 31 children - died in Kerr County, where the Guadalupe River was swollen by torrential downpours before daybreak on Friday, the July Fourth public holiday.
Some 19 adults and seven children have yet to be identified, said the county sheriff's office.
Camp Mystic said in a statement on Monday: 'Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy.'
Richard Eastland, 70, the co-owner and director of Camp Mystic, died trying to save the children, the Austin American-Statesman reported.
Local pastor Del Way, who knows the Eastland family, told the BBC: 'The whole community will miss him [Mr Eastland]. He died a hero.'
Critics of the Trump administration have sought to link the disaster to thousands of job cuts at the NWS' parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The NWS office responsible for forecasting in the region had five employees on duty as thunderstorms brewed over Texas on Thursday evening, the usual number for an overnight shift when severe weather is expected.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected attempts to blame the president.
'That was an act of God,' she told a daily briefing on Monday.
'It's not the administration's fault that the flood hit when it did, but there were early and consistent warnings and, again, the National Weather Service did its job.'
She outlined that the NWS office in Austin-San Antonio conducted briefings for local officials on the eve of the flood and sent out a flood watch that afternoon, before issuing numerous flood warnings that night and in the pre-dawn hours of 4 July.
Trump, who confirmed he would visit Texas later in the week, pushed back when asked on Sunday if federal government cuts had hampered the disaster response, initially appearing to shift blame to what he called 'the Biden set-up', referring to his Democratic predecessor.
'But I wouldn't blame Biden for it, either,' he added. 'I would just say this is a 100-year catastrophe.'
Texas Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican, told a news conference on Monday that now was not the time for 'partisan finger-pointing'.
One local campaigner, Nicole Wilson, has a petition calling for flood sirens to be set up in Kerr County - something in place in other counties.
Such a system has been debated in Kerr County for almost a decade, but funds for it have never been allocated.
Texas Lt Gov Dan Patrick acknowledged on Monday that such sirens might have saved lives, and said they should be in place by next summer.
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Al Jazeera
3 days ago
- Al Jazeera
Texas mourns flood victims at vigil as search continues for dozens missing
Several hundred people have gathered in Tivy Antler Stadium in Texas to mourn the many lives lost and pray for those still missing from the catastrophic flash floods that battered the state over the United States July Fourth holiday. The vigil, held on Wednesday in Kerrville – one of the worst-affected areas – brought together grieving families, local clergy, and volunteers. 'Our communities were struck with tragedy literally in the darkness,' youth minister Wyatt Wentrcek told the crowd. 'Middle of the night.' At least 120 people have been confirmed dead, with more than 160 still unaccounted for, making it the deadliest inland flooding in the US since 1976. Blue shirts bearing the school's slogan, Tivy Fight Never Die, and green ribbons for Camp Mystic – a century-old all-girls Christian camp where at least 27 campers and counsellors died – were worn by many attendees. Officials said five campers and one counsellor from the camp remain unaccounted for. Ricky Pruitt of the Kerrville Church of Christ addressed the crowd, noting the emotional weight of holding the vigil at a stadium more often used to celebrate sporting triumphs. 'Tonight is very different than all of those nights,' he said, as reported by The Associated Press. As mourners held each other and wiped their tears, search crews continued scouring the Guadalupe River – on foot, horseback, and by air – for those still missing. Search dogs were deployed to sniff through trees and piles of debris. Officials admitted hope of finding survivors had all but faded, with efforts now focused on giving families closure. Worst flood in 50 years Meteorologist Bob Henson said the disaster ranks as the most lethal inland flood in nearly five decades, surpassing the 1976 Big Thompson Canyon flood in Colorado, which killed 144. Governor Greg Abbott said many of those who were in the Hill Country during the holiday were never formally registered at a camp or hotel, making it harder to account for everyone. He has faced growing criticism over the state's flood preparedness, with many asking why warnings were delayed and evacuation measures insufficient. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha assured residents that accountability would come but said the immediate priority remains to recover the missing. Abbott has urged state legislators to approve a new flood warning system and boost emergency communication networks. He is pushing for the issue to be addressed during a special legislative session already scheduled to begin on July 21. He also called for financial aid to support recovery efforts. For years, local officials have debated installing a flood siren system, but concerns over cost and noise meant the idea was shelved – a decision now under intense scrutiny. US President Donald Trump has pledged full federal support and is expected to visit the affected areas on Friday.
Qatar Tribune
4 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Texas flash floods death toll climbs to 107
Agencies Texas The death toll from flash floods that struck central Texas on Friday has now climbed to at least 107 people and an unknown number of others are missing. Search and rescue teams are wading through mud-piled riverbanks as more rain and thunderstorms threaten the region, but hope was fading of finding any more survivors four days after the catastrophe. Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls' summer camp, confirmed at least 27 girls and staff were among the dead. Five campers and one adult are still missing. The White House meanwhile rejected suggestions that budget cuts at the National Weather Service (NWS) could have inhibited the disaster response. At least 87 of the victims - 56 adults and 31 children - died in Kerr County, where the Guadalupe River was swollen by torrential downpours before daybreak on Friday, the July Fourth public holiday. Some 19 adults and seven children have yet to be identified, said the county sheriff's office. Camp Mystic said in a statement on Monday: 'Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy.' Richard Eastland, 70, the co-owner and director of Camp Mystic, died trying to save the children, the Austin American-Statesman reported. Local pastor Del Way, who knows the Eastland family, told the BBC: 'The whole community will miss him [Mr Eastland]. He died a hero.' Critics of the Trump administration have sought to link the disaster to thousands of job cuts at the NWS' parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The NWS office responsible for forecasting in the region had five employees on duty as thunderstorms brewed over Texas on Thursday evening, the usual number for an overnight shift when severe weather is expected. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected attempts to blame the president. 'That was an act of God,' she told a daily briefing on Monday. 'It's not the administration's fault that the flood hit when it did, but there were early and consistent warnings and, again, the National Weather Service did its job.' She outlined that the NWS office in Austin-San Antonio conducted briefings for local officials on the eve of the flood and sent out a flood watch that afternoon, before issuing numerous flood warnings that night and in the pre-dawn hours of 4 July. Trump, who confirmed he would visit Texas later in the week, pushed back when asked on Sunday if federal government cuts had hampered the disaster response, initially appearing to shift blame to what he called 'the Biden set-up', referring to his Democratic predecessor. 'But I wouldn't blame Biden for it, either,' he added. 'I would just say this is a 100-year catastrophe.' Texas Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican, told a news conference on Monday that now was not the time for 'partisan finger-pointing'. One local campaigner, Nicole Wilson, has a petition calling for flood sirens to be set up in Kerr County - something in place in other counties. Such a system has been debated in Kerr County for almost a decade, but funds for it have never been allocated. Texas Lt Gov Dan Patrick acknowledged on Monday that such sirens might have saved lives, and said they should be in place by next summer.
Qatar Tribune
5 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Death toll from Texas floods rises to 82; dozens missing
The death toll from the catastrophic floods that hit the state of Texas in the United States has risen to 82, as the search for the missing continues and officials face questions over a failure to evacuate people in hard-hit Kerr County. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said on Sunday that at least 41 people remain unaccounted for across the southern state, three days after the deluge, and that more could be missing. He promised authorities will continue to work around the clock to find the missing, and warned that additional rounds of heavy rains lasting into Tuesday could produce more life-threatening flooding. In Kerr County, Sheriff Larry Leitha said on Sunday that searchers have found the bodies of 68 people, including 28 children, many of whom went missing from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls. Leitha said 10 more girls and a counsellor remain missing and pledged to keep searching until 'everybody is found'. President Donald Trump sent his condolences to the victims and said he would probably visit the area on Friday. His administration had been in touch with Abbott, he added. 'It's a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible. So we say, 'God bless all of the people that have gone through so much, and God bless… God bless the state of Texas',' he told reporters as he left New Jersey. The flooding occurred after the nearby Guadalupe River broke its banks after torrential rain fell in the central Texas area on Friday, the US Independence Day holiday. Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd said the destruction killed three people in Burnet County, one in Tom Green County, five in Travis County and one in Williamson County. Kidd said rescuers were evacuating people from more places along the river, 'because we are worried about another wall of river coming down in those areas', with rain continuing to fall on soil in the region already saturated from Friday's rains. Authorities, meanwhile, have faced growing questions about whether enough warnings were issued in an area long vulnerable to flooding, and whether enough preparations were made. Al Jazeera's Shihab Rattansi, reporting from central Texas, said several communities along the Guadalupe River were evacuated after the National Weather Service sent out repeated warnings about the rising water levels, but not those in Kerr County. 'There are still no answers as to why those here weren't alerted,' he said. (Agencies)
