South-central Texas has been struck by a “catastrophic” flash flood, claiming the lives of at least 24 people and leaving numerous individuals, including at least 20 girls from a summer camp, missing. The tragedy unfolded on Friday, July 4, 2025, after torrential overnight rains caused the Guadalupe River to rise an astonishing 26 feet (eight meters) in as little as 45 minutes, sweeping through Kerr County, northwest of San Antonio.

Among the confirmed fatalities were children, a grim detail shared by Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed that around 23 to 25 people remained unaccounted for, including girls attending Camp Mystic, a summer camp for approximately 750 children located along the Guadalupe River. Officials noted that being “missing” did not necessarily mean “lost,” as individuals could be stranded in trees or out of communication due to the disaster.

In response to the devastation, Texas Governor Greg Abbott swiftly signed a “disaster declaration” to bolster resources for the affected counties. US President Donald Trump described the floods as “terrible” and “shocking,” assuring that federal aid would be provided. A state of emergency was also declared in several counties, with numerous roads rendered impassable and phone lines disrupted.

A massive search and rescue operation was immediately launched, involving approximately 500 personnel and 14 helicopters. Major General Thomas Suelzer, a Texas military official, reported that at least 237 people had been rescued or evacuated by emergency personnel, with 167 rescues performed via helicopters. Teams, including Boerne Search and Rescue, the Texas National Guard, and the US Coast Guard, faced initial challenges due to severe weather but intensified efforts throughout the day, which are set to continue. Freeman Martin, director of the state’s public safety department, characterized the event as a “mass casualty event.”

The rapid onset of the flood caught many by surprise. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly stated, “We didn’t know this flood was coming. Rest assured, no one knew this kind of flood was coming,” highlighting the absence of a warning system in the area. Initial weather predictions had underestimated the rainfall, with up to 12 inches falling, equating to one-third of Kerr County’s average annual rainfall. Judge Kelly underscored the Guadalupe River as “the most dangerous river valley in the United States” and noted that this event far surpassed a 1987 flood that killed 10 teenagers.

The flash flood wrought extensive damage, sweeping away mobile homes, vehicles, and holiday cabins. Videos circulating on social media depicted houses and trees being carried away by the raging waters. Governor Abbott shared a video of a victim being rescued from a treetop by a helicopter, emphasizing continuous air rescue missions until everyone is accounted for. Public safety official Martin also cautioned about “another wave” potentially impacting other counties, indicating the ongoing nature of the threat.

Local residents like Soila Reyna, 55, a Kerrville resident assisting victims, described the event as unprecedented, stating, “Nothing like as catastrophic as this, where it involved children, people and just the loss of people’s houses.” While flash floods are not uncommon when ground cannot absorb torrential rainfall, scientists increasingly link such extreme weather events to human-driven climate change, making them more frequent and intense. This Texas disaster follows another flash flooding incident in San Antonio in mid-June that killed at least 10 people.