The number of confirmed deaths from the catastrophic floods in Texas surpassed 100 on Monday, as search-and-rescue teams continued scouring the disaster zones for victims swept away by raging waters.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Tragically, at least 27 of the deceased were young girls and camp counselors staying at a summer camp along the river when the deluge struck during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

With more rain forecast and the ground already saturated, officials warned that the risk of further flooding remains high, complicating recovery efforts. The operation currently involves helicopters, boats, sniffer dogs, and roughly 1,750 personnel.

“There’s still a significant threat of heavy rainfall capable of causing more flooding,” Governor Greg Abbott stated, warning that the death toll could continue to rise.

President Donald Trump confirmed plans to visit the state on Friday. In response to criticism linking federal budget cuts to weakened flood preparedness, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt strongly pushed back.

“Blaming President Trump for this natural disaster is a disgraceful lie that distracts from the tragedy we are all mourning,” she told reporters. She added that the National Weather Service (NWS) had issued “timely and accurate warnings,” despite reports of staffing gaps in Texas offices prior to the event.

Trump described the floods as a “once-in-a-century disaster” and has signed a major disaster declaration to unlock federal emergency aid and resources.

So far, at least 104 flood-related deaths have been recorded, with Kerr County—traversed by the Guadalupe River—bearing the brunt. The local sheriff confirmed 84 fatalities in the county alone, including 28 children.

Among the dead were 27 campers from Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian camp that was home to around 750 people at the time of the flood. Camps like Mystic are cherished summer traditions across the U.S., where children often spend weeks in rural and wooded areas.

Senator Ted Cruz described the tragedy as a heartbreaking reversal of what should have been joyful memories. “A place meant for friendship and growth has turned into a site of unimaginable loss,” he said.

Meanwhile, some locals have begun questioning the effectiveness of flood alert systems in the region, long known as “Flash Flood Alley” for its frequent and sudden inundations.

While experts maintain that the NWS issued prompt alerts, climate scientist Daniel Swain pointed to a breakdown in how those warnings were disseminated to the public.

Nicole Wilson, a San Antonio mother who nearly sent her daughters to Camp Mystic, launched a petition urging Governor Abbott to implement a modern, effective warning network.

“Five minutes of sirens could’ve saved every one of those girls,” she told AFP.

At a candlelight vigil held in San Antonio Monday night, mourners gathered to remember the victims and express hope for better emergency planning.

“I was stunned by how quickly everything escalated,” said 29-year-old Rebeca Gutierrez. “I just hope serious preventive steps are now being taken in vulnerable areas.”

The raw power of the flood was evident in the destruction it left behind. The Guadalupe River rose more than 26 feet—about the height of a two-story building—in just 45 minutes, smashing cabin windows and submerging rooftops. Mud-covered teddy bears and blankets testified to the lives suddenly lost.

Volunteers combed through the debris along the riverbanks, many driven by personal loss. “We’re helping parents of two missing girls,” said 62-year-old Louis Deppe. “The last message they received was, ‘We’re being washed away’—and then the line went dead.”

The deadly flooding was triggered by several months’ worth of rain falling in a matter of hours Thursday night into Friday. Periodic rainfall since then has only worsened conditions.

Experts have warned that climate change, driven by human activity, is intensifying the frequency and severity of extreme weather events—including floods, heatwaves, and droughts—around the globe.