Death Toll from Texas Flash Floods Rises to 119 as Search for Missing Continues

HUNT, TEXAS — The death toll from the devastating July 4 flash floods in central Texas rose to 119 on Wednesday, with fears mounting that the number could more than double as over 160 people remain missing, particularly in the hard-hit Kerr County area.

Authorities described the ongoing rescue and recovery operation as “all hands on deck,” with more than 2,000 personnel, including police, volunteers, and rescue experts, working tirelessly in treacherous conditions of thick mud, high water, and debris.

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed that 161 individuals were still unaccounted for in the county, part of the Hill Country region notoriously known as “Flash Flood Alley.” The county has borne the brunt of the disaster, reporting at least 95 deaths, including 36 children. Among the missing are five campers and one counselor from Camp Mystic, a summer retreat that was overwhelmed when the Guadalupe River overflowed early Friday.

“Door-to-door” rescues
Authorities described desperate scenes as officers went door-to-door, sometimes pulling residents out through windows to save them from the rising floodwaters. Kerrville police officer Jonathan Lamb praised both official responders and civilians for their heroic efforts, noting that the tragedy, though devastating, “could have been so much worse.”

The National Weather Service has forecast additional rain and scattered storms in the region, raising further concerns about search and rescue operations and the potential for more flooding.

Federal response and scrutiny
U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Texas on Friday with First Lady Melania Trump, amid growing questions about the federal response and the impact of previous funding cuts to emergency warning systems. Officials faced pointed questions during press briefings this week but declined to comment on whether the emergency response was delayed.

“There’s going to be an after-action review,” Sheriff Leitha said, emphasizing that the immediate focus remains on locating the missing and reuniting families.

Devastation in Hunt
In the town of Hunt, AFP reporters witnessed rescue teams digging through debris under helicopter surveillance. Local resident Javier Torres, 24, was among those searching for loved ones. After discovering the body of his grandfather, Torres also found two children’s bodies, believed to have been swept away by the floodwaters.

Elsewhere, in Ruidoso, New Mexico, flash floods claimed three more lives on Tuesday as the Ruidoso River swelled to a record-breaking 20 feet following intense rainfall.

Read more: NDMA forecasts elevated flood risk due to heavy monsoon rains in 48 hours

Climate and geography at play
Experts have pointed to a dangerous combination of extreme drought and above-average temperatures as factors behind the disaster. Shel Winkley of Climate Central explained that the parched soil in Kerr County, a result of prolonged drought, was unable to absorb the torrential rainfall, leading to catastrophic runoff and flash flooding.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered flags lowered to half-staff in honor of the victims as the state continues to grapple with one of the deadliest flood disasters in recent memory.