At least 24 people confirmed dead and more than 20 missing from girls camp in Texas flooding
Officials have also said 23 children are missing from a girls' camp in Texas.
As much as 10 inches (25 centimetres) of heavy rain fell in just a few hours overnight in central Kerr County, causing flash flooding of the Guadalupe River.
An official in the city of Kerville told reporters the flooding struck before dawn "over a very short period of time that could not be predicted, even with the radar".
Judge Rob Kelly, the chief elected official in the county, confirmed fatalities from the flooding and dozens of water rescues so far.
The judge told reporters at a news conference that "most" of the bodies are yet to be identified.
"We're trying to get the identity of these folks, but we don't have it yet," he said.
More than 20 girls unaccounted for
Emergency services are continuing a frantic search to find those missing - including 23 girls.
The children were among more than 700 who were at a summer camp when floodwaters swept through at around 4am local time.
Most of the campers are safe but they could not be immediately evacuated because high waters have made local roads unusable, authorities said.
"Everybody is doing everything in their power to get these kids out," Judge Kelly said.
Asked why more precautions were not taken amid forecasts for stormy weather, Judge Kelly insisted a disaster of such magnitude was unforeseen.
"We have floods all the time. This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States," he said, adding, "We had no reason to believe this was going to be anything like what's happened here. None whatsoever."
Search teams are flying 14 helicopters and a dozen drones over the area, while hundreds of emergency personnel are on the ground conducting rescues.
People desperately searching for their loved ones have posted comments on a Facebook post from the Kerr County sheriff's office.
One woman said she couldn't reach her daughter, who had rented a cabin with her husband and two children.
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