What we know so far
It’s 5am in Texas and the search for survivors is ongoing. Here is what we know so far:
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At least 24 people have died and up to 25 people are missing after torrential rain caused flash floods along the Guadalupe River in Texas on Friday.
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Rescue teams are searching for the people who were attending the Christian all-girls Camp Mystic summer camp just outside the town of Kerrville 104km (64 miles) north-west of San Antonio.
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As of Friday night, emergency personnel had rescued or evacuated 237 people, including 167 by helicopter, Reuters reports.
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The Texas Division of Emergency Management had 14 helicopters and hundreds of emergency workers, as well as drones, involved in search-and-rescue operations.
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A month’s worth of heavy rain fell in a matter of hours. In less than an hour the river rose 26 feet (7.9m) in what Kerr county sheriff’s office called “catastrophic flooding”.
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The flooding swept away mobile homes, vehicles and holiday cabins where people were spending the 4 July weekend, the BBC said.
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A state of emergency has been declared in several counties.
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Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday, US President Donald Trump said, “We’ll take care of them,” when asked about federal aid for the disaster.
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Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the top local elected official, said a disaster of such magnitude was unforeseen. “We had no reason to believe this was going to be anything like what’s happened here,” he said. “None whatsoever.”
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More rain is expected in the state, including around Waco, and flooding is anticipated downriver from Kerr county.
Key events
Deaths an ‘incomprehensible tragedy’, says VP
US Vice President JD Vance has described the deaths caused by the flooding in Texas as an “incomprehensible tragedy”.
At least 24 people are known to have died after the Guadalupe River burst its banks early on Friday, while more than 20 others are still missing.
“Our nation’s heart breaks for the victims in Texas and their families,” Vance wrote in a statement on social media. “Just an incomprehensible tragedy.
“I hope everyone affected knows they’re in the prayers of my family, and of millions of Americans.”
He also shared a prayer: “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
“and let perpetual light shine upon them.
“May the souls of all the faithful departed,
“through the mercy of God, rest in peace.”
Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, which is collecting donations to help nonprofits responding to the disaster, said the area affected is known as “flash flood alley” because of the hills’ thin layer of soil.
“When it rains, water doesn’t soak into the soil,” Dickson told the Associated Press. “It rushes down the hill.”
River tourism industry is a key part of the Hill Country economy. Well-known, century-old summer camps bring in children from all over the country, Dickson said.
“It’s generally a very tranquil river with really beautiful clear blue water that people have been attracted to for generations,” he added.
More rain expected on Saturday and Sunday – forecasters
More rain has been forecast for Saturday and Sunday, forecasters said.
A flood watch had been upgraded to a warning overnight on Friday for at least 30,000 people, the Associated Press reports.
Texas Lt-Gov Dan Patrick said the potential for heavy rain and flooding covered a large area.
“Everything was done to give them a heads up that you could have heavy rain, and we’re not exactly sure where it’s going to land,” Patrick said.
“Obviously as it got dark last night, we got into the wee morning of the hours, that’s when the storm started to zero in.”
Kerr county judge Rob Kelly, the county’s chief elected official, said: “We do not have a warning system.”
When pushed on why more precautions weren’t taken, Kelly said no one knew this kind of flood was coming.
The slow-moving storm stuck over central Texas is expected to bring more rain on Saturday, with the potential for pockets of heavy downpours and more flooding, said Jason Runyen, of the National Weather Service.
The threat could linger overnight and into Sunday morning, he said.
Here is some drone footage which shows the extent of flooding in Texas.
Melania Trump offers sympathy to parents of children affected by floods
Melania Trump has expressed sympathy for the parents of the children affected by the floods in Texas.
In the post on X she wrote:
My heart goes out to the parents in Texas during this difficult time. I am holding you in my thoughts and sending prayers for strength, comfort, and resilience.
Pictures from Kerr County, Texas show some of the destruction caused by flooding in areas along the Guadalupe River.
‘Life-threatening’ flooding continues – officials
Dangerous and life-threatening flooding as well as heavy rains continue in parts of Texas, the National Weather Service for Austin and San Antonio has said.
In a statement on social media, the service said the worst affected counties were Burnet, western Williamson, and northwestern Travis, which all sit in the region to the northeast of the Guadeloupe River.
“A flash flood emergency remains in effect for these areas,” the statement said. “Seek higher ground if near a flooded creek or stream.”
What caused the floods?
The floods came after the Guadeloupe River, which runs across an area of southern Texas, burst its banks following heavy rains.
Officials said the river rose 26ft (8m) in just 45 minutes.
Dalton Rice, city manager for nearby Kerrville, told reporters that flooding struck before dawn and “over a very short period of time, that could not be predicted”
“This happened within less than a two-hour span,” he said.
W. Nim Kidd, director of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, said weather forecasts “did not predict the amount of rain that we saw”.
Here is a map showing the location of the floods.
In footage carried by the BBC, the mayor of Kerrville Joe Herring said earlier:
We will rescue those in peril and we will find those who are missing.
I’d also ask, please pray for our community.
This is a hard day and there will be hard days to come.
Here are some more images coming to us over the wires.
CNN is reporting on residents of Kerrville, Texas, who had to flee for their lives during the flash floods.
“We had to drive over live power lines to get out of here because the only other way we could go was underwater,” Candice Taylor told CNN affiliate KENS.
Zerick Baldwin told KENS: “If I would’ve slept in my truck or something, I would have been gone…The waters came so quickly. If I had stayed, I wouldn’t have even known what hit.”
Here is some footage of the floods in Texas.
