Texas floods: Death toll surges to 82, dozens missing as search operation continues; Trump likely to visit disaster spot
According to sheriff of Kerr County in Texas Hill Country, Larry Leitha, flooding in the county, considered the epicentre of the disaster, claimed lives of 28 children among dead. At a Sunday afternoon press conference, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said that an additional 10 people had died in other parts of Texas, while 41 individuals were still missing.
Trump expressed his condolences to the victims and mentioned that he would likely visit the area on Friday. He noted that his administration had been in contact with Abbott. '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,' Trump said.
Abbott, who inspected the area on Saturday and vowed to keep up efforts to find those still missing, said, 'It was nothing short of horrific to see what those young children went through."
The flooding happened after the nearby Guadalupe River overflowed its banks due to heavy rainfall in central Texas on Friday, which coincided with the US Independence Day holiday.
According to Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, the flooding claimed the lives of three people in Burnet County, one in Tom Green County, five in Travis County, and one in Williamson County.
Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Freeman Martin, stated, 'You will see the death toll rise today and tomorrow.'
Over 850 people had been rescued, consisting of some holding to trees, after an abrupt storm dumped up to 15 inches (38 cm) of rain across the region, nearly 85 miles (140 km) northwest of San Antonio.
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Time of India
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Texas flooding: Kerr County said no to alert sirens over cost — now it's facing the consequences
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Time of India
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- Time of India
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