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Death Toll Tops 70 After Sudden Texas Flash Floods

Officials are intensifying rescue efforts with helicopters and National Guard units after forecasts vastly underestimated the deluge that swamped Texas Hill Country.

Una familia intenta cruzar el río Guadalupe luego de que una inundación repentina azotara la zona, el 5 de julio de 2025, en Ingram, Texas. (AP Foto/Julio Cortez)
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Houses and cars are partially submerged in flood waters in an aerial view near Kerrville, Texas, U.S. July 4, 2025.  U.S. Coast Guard/Handout via REUTERS. 
THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY
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Overview

  • Torrential rains on July 4 caused the Guadalupe River to surge over nine meters within an hour, triggering the most severe floods in Texas Hill Country since 1987.
  • Official tallies show more than 70 people dead across Kerr and neighboring counties, and at least 10 individuals—including girls from Camp Mystic—remain missing.
  • About 500 first responders, supported by 14 helicopters, the Texas National Guard and U.S. Coast Guard, have rescued over 850 residents and continue searching flooded areas.
  • Meteorological models predicted 7–15 centimeters of rain but recorded over 30 centimeters, exposing shortcomings in the region’s alert systems and forecasts.
  • State and federal authorities have declared multiple counties disaster zones and caution that additional storms could impede ongoing recovery operations.