A desperate search is underway for dozens of children missing from a summer camp after devastating floods hit Texas, killing at least 24.
The unexpected flash flooding struck on Friday after torrential rain along the Guadalupe River.
As of Friday night, at least 237 had been rescued or evacuated, including 167 by helicopters, Reuters reported.
The destructive force of the fast-rising waters just before dawn on Friday washed out homes and swept away vehicles.
The total number of missing was not known but the sheriff said between 23 and 25 of them were girls who had been attending Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along the river.
At least 400 people were on the ground helping in the response, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said. Nine rescue teams, 14 helicopters and 12 drones were being used, with some people being rescued from trees.
U.S. president Donald Trump has described the floods as “terrible” and “shocking”.
What caused the flooding?
The catastrophic flooding was caused by torrential rain – but city authorities and forecasters did not predict that it was about to strike.
One National Weather Service forecast this week had called for only between three and six inches (76 to 152 millimeters) of rain, said Nim Kidd, the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
“It did not predict the amount of rain that we saw,” he said.
Officials defended their preparations for severe weather and their response but said they had not expected such an intense downpour that was, in effect, the equivalent of months’ worth of rain for the area.
At least 24 dead and more than 20 children missing in catastrophic Texas flooding
At least 24 people are reported dead and many more are missing, including girls from a Christian summer camp, after catastrophic river flooding hit central Texas Thursday and Friday.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said by Friday evening 24 people have been killed in the flooding, according to The New York Times.
Texas officials said the number of missing is unknown but between 23 and 25 of them were girls who had been attending Camp Mystic.
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