Sheriff confirms 59v have died in Texas floods as he gives update on missing camp children
At least 59 people have died as a result of the Texas flash floods, the county’s Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has confirmed.
As America enjoyed the Fourth of July celebrations on Friday, hundreds just outside the Texan town of Kerrville were hit by deadly floods.
The flash flooding has swept through Kerr County in Texas, as rescue teams continue to look for survivors.
The flooding has swept away mobile homes, vehicles and holiday cabins, which were being used by Americans celebrating Independence Day.
One month’s worth of heavy rain fell in a matter of hours, leading to the Guadalupe River rising to the dangerous level of 26 feet. This lead to a state of emergency being declared in several counties.
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Flash foods have devastated Texas (Eric Vryn/Getty Images)
Speaking at a new conference on Sunday (July 6), Kerr County Sheriff Larry L. Leitha confirmed among the 59 dead, 38 were adults and 21 children.
Meanwhile, Patrick added to Fox News: “We’re now up to 59. We expect that to go higher sadly.”
Numbers are expected to change and increase over the coming days as rescue teams continue their search efforts.
Kerrville Mayor Don Herring Junio has also been speaking at the press conference on Sunday, providing an update to the public on the search.
“Our goal is to rescue those in peril and find those who are lost,” he said. “Our community, our state and the world have been responding.”
Previously, Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said a disaster of such magnitude was unforeseen, Dalton Rice, city manager for Kerrville, has explained why the Guadalupe River rose so quickly.
59 people have died (Eric Vryn/Getty Images)
He told press: “When you look at the headwaters of the Guadalupe… there’s a north and a south fork. Since 1987, under normal conditions, if you can call it that, you’ll hit water in one of those areas, and those two forks will converge into the Guadalupe, which comes through the city of Kerrville.”
Rice continued: “This rain event sat on top of that and dumped more rain than what was forecasted on both of those forks.
“When we got the report, it was about 7 feet or so on the south fork, and within a matter of minutes it was up to 29 feet, and all of that converged at Guadalupe.”
Those missing were among 750 girls attending Camp Mystic outside of Kerrville, with the camp without power, water or WiFi due to the floods.
