Texas Flood Tragedy: 24 Dead, Dozens of Campers Still Missing After Guadalupe River Surge

A catastrophic flash flood swept through central Texas early Friday morning, leaving at least 24 people dead and dozens more missing, including over 20 young girls from a summer camp along the Guadalupe River.

The disaster struck before dawn, as torrential rains—up to 12 inches in some areas—caused the river to rise more than 25 feet in under two hours. Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp located near Hunt, was hit especially hard. Authorities confirmed that 23 campers remain unaccounted for.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster across 15 counties and vowed that “no resource will be spared” in the ongoing search and rescue efforts. The Texas National Guard has already evacuated over 230 people, many by helicopter, and operations are continuing around the clock.

“This happened very quickly, over a very short period of time that could not be predicted,” said Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice, describing the flood’s rapid onset.

President Donald Trump, speaking from Air Force One, pledged federal support for the affected communities, calling the event “shocking” and promising, “We’ll take care of them”.

As families wait anxiously for news, officials are urging the public to avoid the area and allow emergency crews to work without interference. The full extent of the devastation is still unfolding, with hundreds initially reported missing and widespread damage across the Texas Hill Country."**