Among the hardest-hit locations was Camp Mystic, a historic Christian girls’ summer camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River, where fast-rising waters caught hundreds of campers and staff off guard before dawn.
@243159774789799
Major flooding occurred due to torrential rain in Seguin, Texas, USA #Texas#TexasFlood #TexasFlooding pic.twitter.com/LNRcuBVQqQ
— Ronny (@FreePalesten) July 6, 2025
The river surged more than 26 feet in just 45 minutes, overwhelming the camp while most girls were still asleep. Authorities have confirmed the deaths of three campers from North Texas, while 11 others—10 girls and one counselor—remain unaccounted for. Camp director Richard “Dick” Eastland is also among the dead.
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🚨 Texas Flash Floods Tragedy — July 4–6
Torrential rains caused rivers to rise 29 ft in under an hour, triggering catastrophic flash floods across Central Texas
-50+ dead, incl. 15 children
-27 girls still missing from Camp Mystic
-850+ rescued, 80K evacuated#TexasFlooding pic.twitter.com/OUIBKsJPs0
— GlobeUpdate (@Globupdate) July 6, 2025
Also Read: Texas flood tragedy, death toll rises to 51
“There were about 750 children at the camp when the floods hit,” Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said Sunday. “It was nothing short of horrific to see what those young children went through,” added Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who visited the site Saturday.
Rescue efforts have been massive. Over 160 air rescues were conducted, and more than 850 people have been brought to safety. “We’ve been rescuing people out of these camps by the hundreds,” said a volunteer with 300 Justice, a veteran-led rescue group. “There’s clothing from camp dressers scattered up and down the river.”
Many of the 68 deaths in Kerr County have yet to be formally identified, including 18 adults and 10 children. Officials warn the death toll is likely to rise as search and recovery continues amid venomous snakes, mud, and more rain in the forecast.
Governor Abbott declared a state of disaster and vowed, “We won’t stop until we find every girl who was in those cabins.” He noted that residents in RVs and along the riverbanks were also unaccounted for: “There are people confirmed missing who we don t yet know.”
President Donald Trump on Sunday signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County and said he plans to visit the state Friday. “It’s a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible,” he told reporters. “Melania and I are praying for all the families impacted by this horrible tragedy. Our brave first responders are on site doing what they do best. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!”
The community response has been strong. Locals have delivered food, water, and clothing to shelters. “She was all wet, I told her she’s going to need it,” said Alma Garcia, who gave her shirt to a survivor on the roadside.
Pope Leo XIV also offered prayers for the victims, saying, “I express my sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, in particular their daughters who were in summer camp.”
As the floodwaters recede, Texas faces not just recovery—but heartbreak. “We didn’t know,” said Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly. “We knew we’d get rain, but nobody saw this coming.”
