Flash floods have swept across Kerr County in central Texas, killing at least 51 people including 15 children.
Some 27 children have been reported missing from Camp Mystic, a Christian girl’s camp on the Guadalupe River, which rose more than eight metres in less than an hour on Thursday.
Several towns have been devastated by the severe floods, with 850 people evacuated from the area.
According to local new sources, five victims have been identified at the camp, including director Richard ‘Dick’ Eastland.
Among those that have died is eight-year-old camper Renee Smajstrla, whose family said in a statement: ‘We are thankful she was with her friends and having the time of her life, as evidenced by this picture from yesterday. She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic.’
The floods also claimed the life of Jane Ragsdale, the director of another camp, Heart O’ The Hills.
Where is Camp Mystic in Texas?
Camp Mystic is on the Guadalupe River near Hunt in Kerr County, central Texas.
At least 27 children were reported missing on the site after the river burst its banks, having risen eight metres overnight on Thursday.
The severe weather took campers by surprise as they celebrated the Fourth of July holiday.
Thirteen-year-old Elinor Lester, one of hundreds of campers at Mystic, said the centre was ‘completely destroyed’.
She said some of her campmates were taken away by ambulance.
‘It was really scary’, she added.
Grim pictures of the camp after the disaster struck showed rooms deluged with muddy water and pieces of bedding and clothing strewn around.
A young girl was also pictured clinging to a tree, before being taken to safety by rescue workers.
Who owns Camp Mystic in Texas?
Camp Mystic is a private Christian summer girls camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River in west central Texas.
It was established in 1926 on a site of cypress, oak and pecan trees.
According to the camp’s website, its mission is to provide girls with a ‘wholesome Christian atmosphere in which they can develop outstanding personal qualities and self-esteem’.
The camp was in the first week of its ‘second term’ which was scheduled to run from June 29 to July 26.
It is owned and led by Dick and Tweety Eastland, who have been at Camp Mystic since 1976.
They are the third generation to manage the camp, which has been in their family since 1939.
Camp Mystic victims
Around 700 girls were staying at Camp Mystic at the time of the flood.
Wardens began to rescue campers from midday on Friday after initially being unable to access the site.
Renee Smajstrla was the first victim at the camp confirmed dead following the deluge.
Her uncle Shawn Salta wrote on Facebook: ‘Thank you to all our friends and family for all the prayers and outreach.
‘Renee has been found and while not the outcome we prayed for, the social media outreach likely assisted the first responders in helping to identify her so quickly.
‘We are thankful she was with her friends and having the time of her life, as evidenced by this picture from yesterday. She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic. Please continue to pray for the other families in Kerrville.’
Richard ‘Dick’ Eastland, the director of the camp, was also among identified as dead.
Lila Bonner, nine, was also among five victims at Camp Mystic, along with Eloise Peck, eight. Both attended the same primary school.
Eloise’s mother Missy told Fox4News: ‘Eloise was literally friends with anyone.
‘Eloise had a family who loved her fiercely for the 8 years she was with us. Especially her Mommy.’
The other two victims were identified as Sarah Marsh and Janie Hunt.
What has Trump said about Texas floods?
Donald Trump said he and First Lady Melania were ‘praying’ for the victims of the flooding.
He wrote on Truth Social: ‘The Trump Administration is working with State and Local Officials on the ground in Texas in response to the tragic flooding that took place yesterday.
‘Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy. Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!’
Vice President JD Vance said in a message on X: ‘Our nation’s heart breaks for the victims in Texas and their families. Just an incomprehensible tragedy.
‘I hope everyone affected knows they’re in the prayers of my family, and of millions of Americans.’
Kerr County Sheriff Larry L. Leitha told a press conference in Texas: ‘Our thoughts and prayers go out to the loved ones.
‘We are working hard to locate anyone who is still missing and to ensure they are safe.’
Texas State Governor Greg Abbott wrote yesterday on X: ‘Today I visited Camp Mystic. It, and the river running beside it, were horrendously ravaged in ways unlike I’ve seen in any natural disaster.
‘The height the rushing water reached to the top of cabins was shocking. We won’t stop until we find every girl who was in those cabins.’
Weather in Texas
Further rain is expected in parts of Texas on Sunday, with a flood alert still in place until 1pm local time.
The National Weather Service said that parts of the state, including Hill Country and along and east of the I-35 corridor could expect as much as another two to four centimetres of rain over the next few hours.
It said: ‘Additional rainfall amounts of 2-4 inches are possible with isolated pockets of 10 inches somewhere in the watch area.
‘It is very difficult to pinpoint where exactly the isolated heavy amounts will occur in this pattern. Stay Weather Aware!’
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