What started as a peaceful summer retreat along the serene Guadalupe River quickly turned into a heartbreaking tragedy as sudden flash floods ravaged Texas, claiming at least 51 lives and leaving dozens more missing.
Kerr County bore the brunt of the disaster, with 43 lives lost, many of them children attending Camp Mystic, a beloved riverside summer camp that had been a haven for young campers for years. The floodwaters surged unexpectedly, sweeping through cabins and campsites, destroying everything in their path. Families were torn apart in moments, and rescue teams have been working tirelessly, day and night, to locate survivors and provide aid.
This catastrophe was triggered by an intense and relentless downpour, followed by what experts describe as a “flood wave” — a sudden, powerful surge of water moving at frightening speeds that overwhelmed the region within minutes. Dramatic video footage captured the terrifying force of the water as it crashed through riverbeds, sweeping away vehicles, homes, and entire campsites. Meteorologists warn that these flood waves can race through an area at speeds between 25 and 40 miles per hour, leaving people little to no time to react or evacuate safely.
Among the victims are young campers whose joyful summer adventures were cruelly cut short, as well as elderly residents who sought refuge in riverside cabins now lost to the raging waters. Helicopter rescue teams managed to save some, but many remain missing — including an entire family vacationing near Hunt, Texas — leaving communities gripped by anguish and uncertainty.