Fatalities from Texas Flash Floods Top 100
(MENAFN) The death count from devastating flash floods across Texas has climbed to 104, multiple news sources confirmed Tuesday.
Kerr County, the hardest-hit area, reported 84 fatalities, comprising 56 adults and 28 children. Among these, 15 adults and nine children remain unidentified, media detailed.
Adding to the crisis, media reported that 10 children and one counselor from Camp Mystic—a Christian girls’ camp near Hunt in western Kerr County—are still missing. The camp itself revealed on Monday that 27 campers and staff perished in the disaster.
Fatalities have also been documented in other counties: Travis County suffered seven deaths, Burnet County four, Kendall County six, Williamson County two, and Tom Green County one, according to media.
In response to criticism, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt dismissed allegations that the National Weather Service (NWS) failed in delivering prompt and sufficient flood warnings. “They gave out timely flash flood alerts. There were record-breaking lead times in the lead up to this catastrophe. There is ongoing flood monitoring, and these offices were well staffed,” she stated.
Earlier, media reported that several key roles at the NWS were left vacant due to budget cuts initiated during the Trump administration, raising concerns that staffing shortages may have hampered the emergency response.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his sorrow via spokesman Stephane Dujarric: “The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life.” He added, “The Secretary-General extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and expresses his solidarity with all those impacted, the people of Texas and the government of the United States.”
President Donald Trump has announced plans to visit Texas later this week, following his signing of a major disaster declaration for Kerr County aimed at ensuring that first responders “immediately have the resources they need.”
Leavitt said Trump’s trip is “tentatively” scheduled for Friday, explaining that officials are coordinating to find the “most appropriate time on the ground” to avoid disrupting ongoing recovery operations.
The flooding began late Thursday night and continued into early Friday, as heavy rainfall overwhelmed the Guadalupe River. The river surged to over 39 feet (11.8 meters), eclipsing the previous second-highest flood level recorded in 1987.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
