'Nobody saw this coming': Texas flood kills 59; 27 girls still missing after camp washed away, rescue efforts enter day 3

The death toll from the devastating flash floods in Texas has climbed to 59, with more fatalities feared, state officials said Sunday. “We still have heavy rains today, and we lost others. We're now up to 59. We expect that to go higher, sadly,” Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick told Fox News.

27 girls still missing from flood-hit summer camp
Rescuers continued a desperate third day of searching for 27 girls who went missing after floodwaters surged through Camp Mystic , a Christian summer camp along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County. Most of the confirmed dead were recovered from the camp site.

Raging waters rose 26 feet in 45 minutes
Authorities said the river rose by 26 feet in just 45 minutes before dawn on Friday, sweeping away homes, vehicles, and campgrounds. Helicopters, boats, and drones were deployed across debris-filled landscapes to locate survivors. At least one flash flood warning remained in effect in central Texas on Sunday.

Governor declares day of prayer, Pope offers condolences
Governor Greg Abbott declared Sunday a day of prayer for the state. “I urge every Texan to join me in prayer... for the lives lost, for those still missing, and for the safety of those on the front lines,” he said.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, also offered condolences, praying for families who lost loved ones, particularly daughters at the summer camp.

Questions raised about preparedness
Authorities are facing scrutiny over whether sufficient warnings and evacuations were made in time. AccuWeather and the National Weather Service had reportedly issued flash flood alerts hours in advance. Still, many camps were caught off-guard.

Survivors recall terrifying escape
Camp survivor Elinor Lester, 13, described how she and other girls escaped with the help of rescuers using ropes to cross a flooded bridge. An 8-year-old girl from Alabama and a nearby camp director are among the confirmed dead.

Over 850 people rescued in 36 hours
More than 850 people were rescued within 36 hours, including from treetops and rooftops. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem assured federal support, with Coast Guard aircraft continuing operations after dark.

Locals cling to trees, take shelter in attics
Residents described harrowing survival stories. Erin Burgess said she and her teenage son clung to a tree for an hour after water rushed into their home. Barry Adelman recounted moving his entire family, including a 94-year-old and a child, into their attic.

‘Nobody saw this coming,’ say officials
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly called it a once-in-a-century flood. “We know the river rises. But nobody saw this coming,” he said, adding that a proposed flood warning system had failed to materialize due to cost concerns. He said recovery efforts will now begin, calling it a “long, toilsome task.”