By Angélica Casas – Reporting from Kerrville, Texas
BBC News | 5 hours ago

The devastating flash floods that struck central Texas on Friday have now claimed the lives of more than 100 people, with dozens still unaccounted for as search and rescue efforts continue amid worsening weather conditions.

Emergency teams are navigating thick mud and debris along the swollen banks of the Guadalupe River as slow-moving thunderstorms bring additional rainfall to the already hard-hit region. Hopes of finding more survivors have begun to fade, four days after the catastrophic event occurred on the morning of July Fourth.

Among the hardest-hit was Camp Mystic, a Christian summer retreat for girls, which confirmed that at least 27 of its campers and staff members were among the deceased. Ten others, including a camp counselor and young girls, remain missing.

Richard Eastland, 70, the co-owner and director of Camp Mystic, lost his life while trying to save the children. “He died a hero,” said local pastor Del Way, a close friend of the Eastland family. “The whole community will miss him deeply.”

Kerr County bore the brunt of the devastation, accounting for 84 of the confirmed deaths—56 adults and 28 children. According to the county sheriff’s office, 22 adults and 10 children remain unidentified.

In a statement released Monday, Camp Mystic expressed its grief: “Our hearts are broken alongside the families enduring this unimaginable tragedy.”

While the community mourns, political debate has emerged over whether recent federal budget cuts contributed to the scale of the disaster. Critics pointed to thousands of job reductions at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the parent agency of the National Weather Service (NWS).

However, the White House has rejected claims that the government response was hampered. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the tragedy was “an act of God,” emphasizing that the NWS had issued flood watches and numerous warnings in the hours leading up to the deluge. She noted that five NWS staffers were on duty—standard protocol for severe weather shifts.

President Trump, expected to visit Texas later this week, denied any failure on the federal government’s part. “This is a 100-year catastrophe,” he said, adding, “I wouldn’t blame Biden for it either.”

Senator Ted Cruz called for unity rather than political finger-pointing. “Now is not the time for blame. It’s a time for healing and support,” he told reporters during a visit to Kerrville, where he paid tribute to the children lost at Camp Mystic.

Amid the grief, residents are demanding change. Nicole Wilson, a local campaigner, has launched a petition to install flood sirens in Kerr County—a measure that has long been debated but never funded. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick acknowledged on Monday that such a system could have saved lives and pledged to have it operational by next summer.

Condolences have continued to pour in from across the globe. King Charles III sent a letter to President Trump expressing his “profound sadness” over the disaster, offering his “deepest sympathy” to those who lost loved ones.

As Texas mourns its dead, the community continues to grapple with the aftermath of one of the most tragic natural disasters in recent history.