Missing women present in 30ft tree as Texas floods depart 21 youngsters lifeless and plenty of nonetheless lacking
The two girls were reportedly found alive and clinging to a tree after flash floods in the US state of Texas – which have claimed the lives of at least 59 people
Two young girls who went missing during the catastrophic floods in Texas have been found alive, clinging to a tree nearly 30ft high, according to eyewitness accounts.
Reports from multiple sources indicate that the children were rescued between Comfort and Homillus Road in Center Point. Witnesses claim the girls were discovered during ongoing search operations, which also resulted in the recovery of four bodies in the area, as reported by The Kerr County Lead.
Kerr County authorities confirmed at least 59 fatalities as of Sunday, with no clear count of the number of missing persons across the county, which has borne the brunt of the flooding.
Tragically, among the confirmed dead in Kerr County are at least 21 children, including some who had been reported missing from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls in Hunt, Texas.
Elinor Lester, 13, was one of the survivors rescued from the camp site and she said it was “completely destroyed”.
She recounted: “The camp was completely destroyed. A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.”
The flash floods, which saw water levels rise a staggering 26ft in just 45 minutes before sunrise on Friday, have left a trail of destruction, sweeping away homes and vehicles. With flash flood watches still in effect and further rain falling in central Texas on Sunday, the danger is far from over, reports the Mirror.
Helicopters, boats and drones were utilised by search teams to locate victims and rescue individuals stranded in trees and camps cut off by washed-out roads. Officials reported that over 850 people were rescued within the initial 36 hours.
US President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County today, mobilising the Federal Emergency Management Agency to Texas. “These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing,” Trump shared on social media.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott pledged that authorities will work tirelessly and stated that new areas were being searched as the water levels dropped. He declared Sunday a day of prayer for the state.
“I urge every Texan to join me in prayer this Sunday – for the lives lost, for those still missing, for the recovery of our communities, and for the safety of those on the front lines,” he expressed in a statement.
In Rome, Pope Leo XIV offered special prayers for those affected by the disaster. The first American pope in history spoke in English at the conclusion of his Sunday noon blessing, stating: “I would like to express sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, in particular their daughters who were in summer camp, in the disaster caused by the flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas in the United States. We pray for them.”
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.
