Kerrville, Texas, July 7 (V7N) — Rescue operations intensified Sunday across central Texas as emergency teams scrambled to locate dozens still missing after unprecedented flash flooding swept through the region late last week. The disaster, triggered by relentless rainfall from Thursday night into Friday, has so far claimed at least 81 lives, according to local and state authorities.

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed Sunday afternoon that among the deceased are 40 adults and 28 children. The most harrowing losses have come from the area surrounding Camp Mystic, a renowned Christian summer camp for girls located on the banks of the Guadalupe River.

Ten children and one camp counselor remain unaccounted for. Authorities say the Guadalupe River surged more than 26 feet in less than an hour—an extreme rise fueled by the equivalent of six months’ rainfall falling in a single night across the Texas Hill Country.

Meteorologists warn that more rain may be on the way, further complicating recovery efforts in already saturated and unstable terrain. Roads have been washed away, communications disrupted, and entire neighborhoods rendered inaccessible.

Camp Mystic, long a cherished institution for families across the state, was in session when the floodwaters struck. Emergency officials say swift currents tore through the facility late Thursday, leaving little time for organized evacuation.

“This is a historic and heartbreaking tragedy,” said Sheriff Leitha. “Our search and rescue teams are working around the clock, but the conditions are extremely challenging.”

As helicopters, boats, and dive teams scour the floodplain, grief-stricken families gather at emergency shelters, clinging to hope amid growing fears.

Texas Governor Melissa Randall has declared a state of emergency in 17 counties and deployed the National Guard to assist in rescue and recovery efforts. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials are expected to arrive by Monday to assess damages and coordinate relief operations.

The flooding is being described as one of the most severe natural disasters in central Texas history, echoing the deadly Memorial Day floods of 2015 but surpassing it in terms of sudden water level rise and child casualties.

Environmental experts say the catastrophe underscores growing concerns about the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events linked to climate change. The National Weather Service has urged all residents in low-lying areas to remain vigilant as more rainfall is predicted through midweek.

Authorities continue to urge anyone with information on missing persons to contact local emergency hotlines. In the meantime, grieving families await answers—and the nation watches in mourning.

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