More than 120 people died in the US as a result of flooding in the Texas Hill Country
10 July 2025 18:49
The death toll in the Texas Hill Country has exceeded 120 people as a result of massive flooding. Rescue services continue searching, as several dozen people are still missing. This was reported by ABCNews, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
The disaster caused significant damage: residential areas were flooded, bridges and part of the infrastructure were destroyed. Local authorities urge residents to stay in safe places and follow the instructions of emergency services.
Water levels in some areas are still critically high. The number of victims is expected to increase.
In the morning hours of July 4, 2025, the Texas Hill Country, particularly Kerr County, was hit by record-breaking flooding due to heavy rains, exacerbated by the remnants of Tropical Storm Barry.
- The Guadalupe River rose nearly 29-35 feet (~8.8-10.7 m) in about 45 minutes, a rate typical of flash flooding.
Victims and missing persons
- More than 120 people have been confirmed dead, including 96 in Kerry.
- About 160-173 people remain missing.
- Among the dead are at least 27 girls and educators from Camp Mystic
Main affected areas
The flood hit the counties of: Kerr, Travis, Kendall, Burnet, Williamson and Tom Green counties.
Camp Mystic, a Christian women’s camp, suffered particularly severe losses despite having a disaster plan in place.
Preparedness and response
- Kerr County did not have an external warning system (siren), which significantly delayed the response – requests to activate code signals were sent almost 6 hours after the event.
- Rescue operations are ongoing, involving helicopters, boats, drones, divers, volunteers, and FEMA.
Consequences
- Damage is estimated at $18 to $22 billion, covering damaged infrastructure, homes, businesses, and victim assistance.
- Texas officials expect to install warning sirens by next summer.
The climate component
- Experts believe that global warming has led to intense precipitation – the atmosphere after 1991-2020 holds more moisture, which increases the risk of flash floods.
- Such catastrophes (“100-” or “500-year” floods) are increasingly recurring in Texas.
