06.07.2025 15:17

At least 59 fatalities, tragically including 15 children, have been confirmed in the aftermath of devastating flash floods in central Texas. This grim toll comes as rescue efforts continue, with dozens of children from a summer camp still unaccounted for. The unfolding tragedy has sparked intense scrutiny regarding emergency preparedness and the effectiveness of warnings issued to residents.

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick announced the death toll on Sunday morning via Fox News, highlighting the immense scale of the disaster. Simultaneously, the search continues for an estimated 27 individuals who were attending Camp Mystic, a girls' Christian summer camp situated precariously close to the Guadalupe River.

The magnitude of the rescue operation is staggering. Governor Greg Abbott reported that over 850 individuals have been rescued across Kerr County—the hardest-hit area—thanks to the combined efforts of the Coast Guard and over 1,000 first responders from various Texas state agencies.

Questions surrounding the lack of preemptive evacuations of camps along the Guadalupe River are fueling controversy. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, when pressed on this issue, admitted a lack of knowledge, stating that the county had no prior indication of the impending severity of the flooding. This lack of foresight has left many questioning the adequacy of the response.

The Texas Division of Emergency Management director, W. Nim Kidd, criticized the National Weather Service for underestimating the rainfall. However, it's important to note that the NWS had indeed issued flash flood watches on Thursday afternoon, specifically highlighting Kerr County as a high-risk area. More urgent flash flood emergency alerts were subsequently issued overnight as the situation rapidly deteriorated. The role of the NWS in this tragedy remains a subject of ongoing investigation and debate, with the focus on the accuracy and timeliness of the warnings issued.