At least 50 dead from Texas floods; dozens still missing

Rescuers continue frantic search as the authorities warn casualty toll will likely rise

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TEXAS - At least 50 people, including 15 children, have been confirmed dead following flash floods in central Texas, the authorities said on July 6 as rescuers continued a frantic search for dozens more campers, vacationers and residents who were still missing.

The casualty toll will likely rise, the authorities said, as localities beyond the main site of the disaster in Kerr County were affected by the flooding.

Officials said more than 850 people had been rescued, including some who were clinging to trees, after a sudden storm dumped up to 38cm of rain in an area around the Guadalupe River, about 137km north-west of San Antonio.

Among the missing were 27 girls from the Camp Mystic summer camp, Kerrville city manager Dalton Rice said at a press conference on the evening of July 5, and there may be others beyond that.

Mr Rice said 27 people were known to be missing, but "we will not put a number on the other side because we just don't know".

The disaster unfolded rapidly on the morning of July 4 as heavier-than-forecast rain drove river waters rapidly to as high as 8.8m.

"We know that the rivers rise, but nobody saw this coming," said Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the top local official in the region.

"We have recovered 43 deceased individuals in Kerr County. Among these who are deceased, we have 28 adults and 15 children," said Mr Larry Leitha, the sheriff of the flood-ravaged region.

Multiple victims were also found in other counties, bringing the death toll to 50.

A Travis County official said four people had died from the flooding there, with 13 unaccounted for, and officials reported another death in Kendall County.

Department of Homeland Security head Kristi Noem said the US Coast Guard was "punching through storms" to evacuate stranded residents.