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Flood Devastation in Texas
A drone image reveals the extensive damage at Camp Mystic following flooding on the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas, on July 6, 2025.
The toll from the catastrophic floods sweeping across Texas has tragically climbed to 108 fatalities, as officials anticipate further rainfall in the following days. Rescue teams continue to search for missing individuals, focusing particularly on severely affected regions like Kerr County, where the majority of the casualties—87 bodies—were discovered by Tuesday morning, according to Sheriff Larry Leitha.
Rescue and recovery operations are anticipated to become even more challenging due to the predicted heavy rain.
Among the deceased, there are at least 27 campers and counselors from a youth summer camp along the Guadalupe River, who were present over the Fourth of July weekend. Sheriff Leitha reported that five campers and one counselor from Camp Mystic are still unaccounted for.
Local officials have confirmed that 108 flood-related deaths have been reported across central Texas. President Donald Trump stated during a Cabinet meeting that he and First Lady Melania Trump will visit the affected areas on Friday. He noted his strong relationship with the state’s Republican governor has aided the rescue efforts.
“The response has been remarkable. We deployed many helicopters from various locations, and they excelled at evacuating numerous individuals quickly. Texas also utilized some excellent resources in its response,” Trump mentioned.
Despite previously asserting that disaster response should be managed at the state level, Trump signed a major disaster declaration earlier this week, unlocking additional federal resources and assistance.
“Extremely Hazardous Conditions”
Ben Baker, a member of the Texas Game Wardens, explained that search and rescue operations involving helicopters, drones, and dogs are extremely complicated due to the water and mud.
“Navigating through these debris piles can be dangerous, and getting deep into them poses significant hazards,” Baker noted. “It’s perilous and laborious work, and the water remains present.”
He also stressed the importance of prioritizing the mental health of first responders, especially given that many of the bodies being recovered are those of children.
In Hunt, the epicenter of the disaster, an AFP team observed recovery workers searching through debris while helicopters hovered above, as hopes for finding survivors began to fade.
Javier Torres, 24, diligently dug through the mud in search of his grandmother’s body after having already discovered his grandfather’s remains, along with the bodies of two children apparently swept away by the river.
Officials are warning that additional heavy rainfall will complicate recovery efforts even further. “We have received reports of possibly more water arriving, which will obviously affect search and recovery operations,” Baker said. “While the weather may alter aerial surveillance patterns, it won’t stop the efforts.”
Amid this calamity, scrutiny is increasing regarding whether funding cuts by Trump have weakened early warning systems and how rescue operations have been conducted. During a sometimes tense press conference, Baker avoided commenting on the emergency response’s speed, stating, “Our focus right now is on bringing people back home.”
Shel Winkley, a climate expert with Climate Central, cited regional geography, remnants of tropical storm Beryl, and the impact of exceptional drought as key factors contributing to the disaster’s severity. “The Kerr County area faced extreme to exceptional drought conditions, which are the most severe possible. Since May, temperatures have consistently been above average,” Winkley explained to reporters.
Tom Di Liberto, the organization’s media director, indicated that staffing shortages at the National Weather Service have also played a part in the tragedy. “Across the country, weather forecasting offices have seen their most experienced personnel leave, making it difficult to replace that expertise,” Di Liberto stated.
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