Texas Floods Claim 110 Lives, 170 Missing as Search Intensifies

Deadly floods in Texas have left at least 110 people dead and more than 170 still unaccounted for, as rescue teams work tirelessly to locate survivors in the aftermath of the disaster. The situation has raised fears that the death toll could rise even further, as the search for missing individuals continues.

The floods, which struck during the Fourth of July holiday, caused widespread devastation across the state. Torrents of river water surged through several counties, with some areas hit in the middle of the night. Emergency responders are now working under intense pressure to recover bodies and find any remaining survivors.

State Governor Greg Abbott has warned that the final death toll has not yet been determined. He emphasized that the top priority is to locate every missing person. "Right now, our #1 job is to find every single missing person," Abbott said, posting on X.

Kerr County, located in central Texas and known as "Flash Flood Alley," has been the hardest hit. At least 95 people have died in the county, including 36 children. Sheriff Larry Leitha reported that 161 people are known to be missing in Kerr County, with 12 others missing elsewhere in the state. "There very likely could be more added to that list," he said.

Among the victims are at least 27 girls and counselors at a summer camp on the Guadalupe River, which burst its banks. Five campers and one counselor from Camp Mystic are still missing, along with another child not associated with the camp. In total, the county has seen 15 additional fatalities, according to Abbott.

Over 2,000 rescue personnel, including police and experts, have been deployed to the area in what Leitha described as an "all hands on deck" operation. Ben Baker, with the Texas Game Wardens, said the search and rescue efforts have been extremely challenging due to the water, mud, and debris. "When we’re trying to make these recoveries, these large piles can be very obstructive, and to get in deep into these piles, it’s very hazardous," Baker explained.

Kerrville police officer Jonathan Lamb spoke of heroic rescues by both authorities and volunteers. He described how officers have been going door to door, waking people up and pulling them out of flooded homes and trailers. "The tragedy, as horrific as it is, could have been so much worse," Lamb said.

The National Weather Service has warned of more storms in the Hill Country, with isolated pockets of heavy rain expected. In the neighboring state of New Mexico, flash flooding left three people dead in Ruidoso, where the Ruidoso River rose to a record-breaking 20 feet.

In the town of Hunt, recovery workers were seen combing through piles of debris with helicopters flying overhead. Javier Torres, a 24-year-old local, was searching for his grandmother after finding the body of his grandfather. He also discovered the bodies of two children, apparently washed up by the river.

President Donald Trump is set to visit Texas this week, and he has praised the efforts of the rescue teams. "We brought in a lot of helicopters from all over ... They were real pros, and they were responsible for pulling out a lot of people," Trump said.

As the search continues, the people of Texas are coming together in the face of this tragedy, showcasing resilience and determination in the face of unimaginable loss.