Flood Crisis in Texas: 27 Dead and 27 Missing Children from Summer Camp
A devastating flood event in Texas has resulted in significant loss of life and widespread destruction across several counties. At least 27 individuals, including nine children, have lost their lives due to intense rains and catastrophic flooding. Additionally, authorities are urgently searching for 27 girls reported missing after attending a summer camp near the town of Kerrville, approximately 104 km northwest of San Antonio. Emergency services continue extensive rescue operations, with reports indicating that over 850 people have been rescued or evacuated unharmed, while eight others have sustained injuries. Sheriff Larry Litta stated that six adults and one child remain unidentified, emphasizing that search efforts persist until all missing persons are accounted for. Rescue teams are operating on boats and helicopters, navigating swiftly flowing floodwaters, as families and friends desperately seek information about loved ones in social media posts. In the central Kerr County region, more than 25 centimeters of rainfall fell overnight, causing rivers to overflow and leading to widespread road destruction, which hampers rescue efforts. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his condolences regarding the natural disaster and the loss of lives. Meanwhile, scientists from USC Viterbi School of Engineering and the Earth Physics Institute at the University of Paris City warn that increasing soil erosion in coastal areas could intensify flooding consequences in Middle Eastern and North African cities. Their research highlighted the catastrophic floods that struck Derna, Libya, in 2023, claiming over 11,000 lives and demonstrating how coastal erosion significantly contributed to the severity of the disaster.