TEXAS, July 5 (V7N) – A deadly flooding emergency has struck central Texas over the Fourth of July holiday, with at least six to ten fatalities confirmed and dozens more missing after torrential rainfall caused the Guadalupe River to overflow. Swift-water rescue teams continue urgent operations as local and state authorities scramble to locate survivors and assess the damage.

The disaster has centered around Kerr County, including the city of Kerrville — home to roughly 25,000 residents — located approximately 60 miles northwest of San Antonio. Authorities report that heavy rains began late July 3 and continued into the early hours of Independence Day, overwhelming the region’s waterways and infrastructure.

Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, speaking at a press conference Thursday afternoon, confirmed the grim toll. He stated that “six to ten bodies” had been recovered, though identification of the deceased remains underway. As many as 20 people remain unaccounted for from Camp Mystic, a private all-girls Christian summer camp located near the river, raising fears that the death toll may still rise.

Hundreds of emergency personnel have been deployed across the affected areas, engaging in rapid search-and-rescue operations. By late Thursday morning, dozens of people had been rescued from dangerous floodwaters, but water levels and debris continue to hamper efforts.

The National Weather Service labeled the situation “catastrophic,” issuing a rare flash flood emergency for Kerr County and surrounding regions. Local authorities have declared disaster zones and urged residents to avoid travel and seek higher ground.

Camp Mystic, which hosts hundreds of young girls each summer, was directly in the path of the surging river. Family members of campers have flooded social media with pleas for updates and safety confirmations. Emergency services are working to reunite families and provide shelter to those displaced.

The flooding is among the worst in recent Texas memory, evoking comparisons to previous disasters such as Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Officials warn that further rainfall could worsen conditions in the coming days, and more rivers in the region remain at risk of breaching their banks.

As of Friday morning, state officials, including Governor Greg Abbott, have promised full support and resources to local agencies managing the crisis. Federal assistance may also be sought depending on the scale of continued damage.

The disaster has reignited concerns about extreme weather events in the southern United States, where climate volatility has intensified in recent years. Experts point to changing rainfall patterns and increased river vulnerability as signs of systemic climate-related risk.

Rescue and recovery efforts are expected to continue through the weekend, with authorities urging the public to remain vigilant and support relief operations.

END/WD/AJ/