Texas Flash Floods Kill 51, 27 Children Missing in Kerr, Llano Rivers

A catastrophic flash flood struck central Texas, particularly devastating Kerr County, where the Guadalupe River rose by 26 feet in just 45 minutes after a massive rainfall dumped about a third of the area's yearly precipitation in a few hours. The flood caused at least 51 deaths, including 15 children, and left dozens missing, many of whom are school-age girls from Camp Mystic near Kerrville, which lost power and water amid the disaster. Timelapse videos capturing the rapid rise of the Llano and Guadalupe Rivers have gone viral, showing a bridge being submerged in under two minutes and a family’s July 4 celebration overwhelmed by flooding within half an hour. Rescue efforts are ongoing but hampered by the scale and speed of the floodwaters, which have far surpassed previous records and caused widespread destruction. Local officials urge residents to shelter in place or seek higher ground, while officials continue to search for survivors and provide aid. The flooding has drawn national attention, with some public criticism directed at the federal response during this emergency.