Kerrville, Texas | July 8, 2025 — The death toll from the devastating flash floods that ravaged central Texas over the July Fourth weekend has soared past 100, with search-and-rescue operations still underway across multiple counties.
At least 104 people have been confirmed dead, with dozens more still unaccounted for, following the early Friday morning flooding that swept through summer camps and riverfront communities along the Guadalupe River.
Among the worst-hit was Camp Mystic, a historic all-girls Christian camp in Kerr County, where 27 campers and counselors were swept away. Officials confirmed 84 bodies recovered so far, 28 of them children, and 11 still missing from that camp alone.
Described as among the worst floods in decades, the torrential waters struck in the dark of night, dragging cabins, trailers, and tents downstream.
Survivors were found clinging to trees, while riverbanks on Monday were littered with mangled debris—canoes, coolers, mattresses, and remnants of once joyful summer memories.
In addition to Kerr County, 19 deaths were reported in Travis, Burnet, Kendall, Tom Green, and Williamson counties. Victims include twin 8-year-old girls from Dallas and a former soccer coach and his wife. Their children remain missing.
With more rain forecasted, authorities warned the situation could deteriorate further. Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed that more than three dozen people remain unaccounted for statewide, and over 1,000 volunteers have joined the search.
Investigations are expected into whether camps received adequate weather warnings and why some failed to evacuate.
“We’ll look into what could have been done differently, but right now our focus is saving lives,” said Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice.
The National Weather Service had issued alerts beginning Thursday, escalating to flash flood emergencies on Friday morning. However, poor cellphone coverage in the area may have hindered communication.
President Donald Trump, who declared a major disaster for Kerr County, is scheduled to visit Texas on Friday.
He acknowledged the suddenness of the disaster, saying, “This was a thing that happened in seconds. Nobody expected it.”
Officials also urged drone operators to avoid flying over rescue zones after a collision with a rescue helicopter grounded emergency efforts.
As central Texas mourns, stories of heroism have emerged. In Hunt, a couple in their 80s rescued a 92-year-old neighbor from her attic.
At Camp Mystic, a young boy swam out through a cabin window to survive. His sister escaped uphill, floodwaters lashing at her legs.
This tragedy has left a state in shock—and families desperately waiting for news.
