Texas is shocked by the deaths of at least 24 people and the disappearance of 20 girls who were at a campsite near the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, when the tributary reached a level of eight meters in just 45 minutes, this due to the heavy rains that hit the area on Friday afternoon.

In a press conference, Larry L. Leitha, Sheriff of Kerr County, announced that 24 people died during the flood.

According to the National Meteorological Service (NMS), the Guadalupe River reached its second highest level on record, even surpassing the level that produced another flood in the area 38 years ago.

Several videos are circulating on social media where some roads have been underwater.

The overflowing of the aforementioned river also affected several camps where groups of children and young people usually go to spend the summer.

Sheriff Leitha reported that at Camp Mystic, up to 25 of its 750 campers are missing.

In this regard, Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor of Texas, said in a press conference that there is hope that the missing have managed to take shelter awaiting rescued.

“That doesn’t mean they’re lost; they could be up a tree, they could be cut off. We’re praying that all of the missing are found alive,” he said.

So far, state search and rescue teams, as well as members of the Texas National Guard, continue to comb the area for survivors.

For his part, Gregory Wayne Abbott, Governor of Texas, issued a disaster declaration for 15 counties affected by the flooding and asked citizens to try to get to safety until the water begins to recede.

“Texas is providing all necessary resources to Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt and the entire Texas mountain region to deal with these devastating floods.

The state of Texas has mobilized additional resources, in addition to those sent for storm preparedness.

I urge Texans to follow the instructions of state and local authorities and to be attentive to local forecasts to avoid driving through flooded areas,” he emphasized.

Meanwhile, the SMN anticipates that it is likely that rain will continue, which would worsen the search for possible living people.