23 Girls Missing From Christian Camp After Texas Flash Flood
Dozens of other Texans confirmed dead
What began as a peaceful evening at a historic Texas summer camp turned into a nightmare Thursday night into Friday when flash floods along the Guadalupe River surged through Camp Mystic, sweeping away cabins and children. Twenty-three girls remain missing, and 24 people are confirmed dead across the Central Texas region.
Fueled by intense rainfall, the river rose an astonishing 30 feet in just three hours, overtaking banks, roadways, and homes. Officials said the water levels exceeded those recorded in the deadly 1987 flood.
“We’ve never seen anything like it,” said Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha, describing the scale and speed of the disaster.
Texas camp was a favorite for Christians
Camp Mystic, a favorite Christian girls’ camp founded in 1926, had just started its second summer session when the flood struck. The girls, ages 7 to 17, were staying in cabins along the river, many of which were overtaken by water in the darkness. Reports say the younger girls were in cabins nearer the river.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick urged residents to “do some serious praying this afternoon — on-your-knees kind of praying — that we find these young girls.” He added, “That does not mean they’ve been lost… They could be in a tree. They could be out of communication.”
Families at a reunification center in nearby Ingram, waited desperately for news. Across the state, communities announced those who were missing. “We are devastated to share that one of our Sinclair students is missing from Camp Mystic,” read a message from the PTO of Sinclair Elementary in Houston, referring to 8-year-old Greta Toranzo.
Gov. Greg Abbott has issued a disaster declaration for 15 Texas counties and promised “limitless resources” for search and rescue. More than 230 people have already been rescued, including 167 by helicopter, as teams from the National Guard, Texas Game Wardens, and local agencies continue the search by boat and air.
Authorities say the search may be one of the largest search and rescue efforts in state history.
–Metroi Voice
