On the night of Friday, July 4, 2025, a massive storm poured down on Central Texas. Within a few hours, between five and eleven inches (130-280 mm) of rain fell in the Texas Hill Country. The Guadalupe River rose by up to eight meters, triggering a devastating flash flood.
At least 51 people, including 15 children according to the latest figures, lost their lives in the massive flooding. The death toll is spread across several counties: 43 victims were reported in Kerr County, four in Burnet County, three in Travis County and one in Kendall County.
The situation is particularly dramatic at the summer camp Camp Mystic on the banks of the Guadalupe River. Twenty-seven girls are still missing there. Rescue teams are working around the clock to find them.
The National Guard and federal authorities are leading the rescue operations, supported by local emergency services. So far, more than 850 people have been rescued alive, with several others suffering injuries. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has declared next Sunday an official day of prayer for the victims.
The disaster has triggered discussions about warning systems. Although there were severe weather warnings early on Friday morning, the flood waves came so quickly that many residents were taken by surprise.
Meteorologically, the extreme amount of precipitation can be traced back to the remnants of the tropical storm system Barry, which intensified in combination with moisture over the Gulf of Mexico. The result was a large mesoscale precipitation complex, a rare and particularly destructive weather phenomenon.
The situation remains critical: water level and storm warnings are still in place and the search for missing persons is ongoing in many places. The affected communities are facing enormous challenges in terms of reconstruction and psychological support for those affected and the emergency services.
