At least 24 people have died and up to 25 girls from a summer camp remain missing after devastating flash floods struck Texas on Independence Day, authorities said on Friday.

U.S. President Donald Trump described the incident as “shocking” and “terrible”, while Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed that federal support had been pledged.

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said the Guadalupe River rose by 26 feet in 45 minutes, sweeping away buildings, vehicles, and tragically, lives.

“It was a destructive flood, taking property and sadly lives,” Patrick said at a press briefing.

Patrick said that parents who had not been contacted should assume their children were safe, adding that the missing may be “out of communication” rather than confirmed lost.

Officials from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reached Camp Mystic, where more than 20 girls have been unaccounted for since waters surged through the area. Telecoms outages have hindered communication.

More than 400 personnel have been deployed in the ongoing search and rescue, including 14 helicopters, 12 drones, and nine rescue teams, according to state officials. Some 237 people have already been rescued, said Texas Maj Gen Thomas Suelzer.

Governor Abbott declared disaster zones in the Hill Country and Concho Valley regions, warning of further flash flooding after the area received months’ worth of rain in hours.

Kerr County, one of the worst-hit regions, reported “several people missing and confirmed loss of life”.

At a press conference, Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly responded to criticism over why summer camps were not evacuated sooner.

“We didn’t know this flood was coming… no one knew this kind of flood was coming,” Kelly said.

“We do not have a warning system.”

Kelly compared Friday’s floods to the deadly 1987 flood that killed 10 teenagers near Comfort, saying this incident “far surpassed” it.

Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring also confirmed the absence of an early warning system in the area.

Images from the region showed bridges submerged, roads turned into raging torrents, and families desperately searching for missing loved ones.

“Folks, please don’t take chances. Stay alert, follow local emergency warnings, and do not drive through flooded roads,” warned Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller.

On local forums such as Kerrville Breaking News, families posted desperate appeals for missing relatives, including elderly grandparents, young couples, and camp attendees.

Elsewhere, in New Jersey, at least three people died after severe storms and heavy rainfall. Victims included a 79-year-old man, a 25-year-old, and a 44-year-old woman, all killed when trees fell on vehicles during Thursday night’s storm.

Rescue operations in Texas are expected to continue through the weekend. Authorities have urged anyone living near streams, creeks, and the Guadalupe River to move to higher ground immediately.

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