Flooding in Texas leaves at least 50 dead
6 July 09:15
In the United States, the death toll from flash flooding in Texas is rising.
“We have found 43 bodies in Kerr County. Among them are 28 adults and 15 children,” said the region’s sheriff, Larry Leita, at a press conference on Saturday evening, July 5. In addition, three new deaths were reported in Burnet County and four in Travis County, several American media outlets reported, citing regional authorities.
This is reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to DW.
Earlier, the county government announced 24 deaths as a result of the devastating flood in the US state.
The fate of the 27 missing girls remains unknown, and the identities of several dead children and adults have not yet been established, the sheriff said in an interview with journalists. The ongoing search operation involves about 500 rescuers and 14 helicopters, the Texas National Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Most of the approximately 750 girls who were vacationing at a summer camp near the Guadalupe River have been rescued, and a total of 850 people, including camp staff, have been successfully evacuated, Leita said. As reported earlier by Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, the water level in the Guadalupe River rose by eight meters in just 45 minutes on the night of July 4. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said that one of the walls of the camp’s dining room was completely destroyed by water. “The water reached the tops of the trees up to about ten meters,” AFP quoted a local resident as saying.
Trump is criticized for laying off skilled workers
The administration of US President Donald Trump has been criticized by scientists and emergency authorities for cutting funding and staff at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which is responsible for weather forecasts and disaster protection in the United States. In addition, in the past, the head of the White House has regularly denied the results of scientific research on abrupt climate change.
The floods on the US Independence Day were caused by heavy rains, with rainfall reaching 300 liters per square meter, which is one third of the average annual rainfall in Kerr County.
The National Weather Service (NWS) predicts further heavy rains and “localized catastrophic” flooding in the region. According to the NWS, the first new floods have already begun, and residents living near rivers are advised to move to higher ground. “Act quickly to save your life,” the service’s current warning to Texas residents reads.
Trump is “shocked” by what is happening
The US president himself, without commenting on the criticism in his address, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. “It’s terrible, these floods. It’s shocking,” Trump told reporters and announced federal aid.
The president will ensure that NWS and NOAA technologies are modernized, US Secretary of Homeland Security Christie Noem told reporters on July 5. “We have to update this outdated system,” she said, according to AFP. She added that she would inform the government of the country about the criticism from local residents who complained about the lack of information about the floods.
