Texas is in mourning after floods of exceptional violence which left at least 78 people dead. The emergency services are continuing research to find dozens of people who are still missing, especially in the city of Kerrville, the epicenter of the disaster.
The Texas Center-South lives in dark hours. After the torrential rains that fell on the region on Friday at dawn, the authorities confirmed a balance sheet of at least 78 dead, while dozens of people are still missing.
The city of Kerrville, nestled in the heart of the Hill Country hills, pays the heaviest tribute. Kerr’s County Sheriff Larry Leitha announced that 68 people had perished in this only locality, including 28 children. The sudden rise in waters of the Guadalupe river, transformed into a torrent in less than an hour, has submerged many homes and infrastructure.
Among the most affected places is the Mystic camp, a Christian summer camp for young girls, founded almost a century ago on the banks of the river. Initially, around twenty young girls were reported to it.
The bad weather also made ten additional victims in four neighboring counties, according to state services, and at least 41 people remained disappeared outside the county of Kerr.
Freeman Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Security, warned that the assessment could still get worse as the waters are withdrawing and that rescue operations are progressing.
The authorities now warn against the risk of new sudden floods, even in the event of moderate rains, due to the extreme soil saturation.
