Multiple flash flood warnings remain in central Texas after water surged locally through the community as the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet (8 meters) in just 45 minutes, according to AFP.
The summer camp in Kerr County, where hundreds of people were staying, was left in chaos, with blankets, teddy bears and other belongings locked in mud.
“We have recovered 43 dead individuals in Kerr County. Among these dead are 28 adults and 15 children,” said Larry Leesa, sheriff of the flood-destructed area.
Several casualties were also found in other counties, bringing the death toll to 50.
The Nim Kidd Department of Emergency Management said air, ground and water-based crews are scrutinizing the length of the Guadalupe River for the bodies of survivors and the dead.
“We’ll continue our search until we find all the people we’re missing,” he said.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he is expanding the state’s disaster declaration and is requesting additional federal resources from President Donald Trump.
The flood began on Friday – the start of the holiday weekend on July 4th – as months of rain fell in hours.
The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that more rain is expected and “excessive runoff could lead to flooding in rivers, streams, streams and other lowlands and flood-prone areas.”
On Saturday in Carville, normally mild Guadalupe flowed quickly, filling its murky water with debris.
“The water reached the top of the tree, about 10 meters long,” said resident Gerald Martinez, 61. “The car and the whole house were down the river.”
Flash floods that occur when the ground cannot absorb the rain from heavy rain are not uncommon.
However, scientists say in recent years, human-driven climate change has made extreme weather phenomena, such as floods, droughts and heat waves, more frequent and more intense.
MNA