Texas Flood Tragedy: Search Intensifies as Death Toll Reaches 51, Including 15 Children

Rescue efforts continue in central Texas after devastating floods claimed 51 lives, with 15 children among the victims. Hundreds of rescuers are scouring the worst-hit areas for survivors.

By Lubowa Babu Hussein

July 6, 2025 at 8:46 AM

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Key Takeaways

51 people have died in central Texas floods, including 15 children.
The search focuses on Kerr County, where 43 fatalities and 27 missing children from a youth camp were reported.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has expanded the disaster declaration to support rescue operations.
Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp, was devastated by rapidly rising floodwaters.
Additional rainfall is predicted, potentially worsening the flood situation.

Central Texas is grappling with a catastrophic flood that has left 51 people dead, including 15 children, as search and rescue operations persist. The hardest-hit region is Kerr County, where 43 fatalities have been reported, and 27 children remain missing after a Christian youth camp along the Guadalupe River was overwhelmed by the rising waters.

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha vowed that the search efforts would not cease until every missing individual is found. "The work continues, and will continue, until everyone is found," he assured the public. Additional deaths have been confirmed in Travis and Tom Green counties, with flash flood warnings remaining in effect across the region.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has expanded the disaster declaration to bolster rescue operations, emphasizing the state's commitment to locating all victims. "We will stop when the job is completed," he stated during a press conference on Saturday. So far, approximately 850 people have been rescued from the disaster zone.

The focus of the rescue mission has centered on Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp situated along the Guadalupe River. Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick revealed that many of the 27 missing girls are under the age of 12. The camp was left in ruins, with mud-covered belongings scattered across the site. The river surged more than 26 feet in less than an hour early Friday morning, catching many campers asleep.

Forecasters from the National Weather Service have warned of additional rainfall, with predictions of 2 to 5 inches in central Texas and up to 10 inches in severely affected areas. President Donald Trump has pledged federal support, with his administration working closely with local authorities to manage the crisis.

Heartbreaking stories have emerged from the tragedy, including the loss of sisters Blair and Brooke Harber, aged 13 and 11. A special Mass is scheduled at Notre Dame Catholic Church on Sunday to honor the victims and their families. Meanwhile, survivors like Leo, a teenager who was saved by barbed wire, and residents like Anthony, who lost nearly all his possessions, are beginning to rebuild their lives.

As the community mourns, the search for the missing continues, with rescuers combing the Guadalupe River and surrounding areas for any sign of life. The nation watches and waits, hoping for more survivors to be found amidst the devastation.