San Antonio Flooding Claims Lives, Leaves Others Missing

Authorities in San Antonio, Texas, reported on Thursday that five individuals had been found deceased and two others were missing following severe flooding caused by heavy rainfall. The flooding impacted highways throughout the city.

The San Antonio Fire Department received numerous water rescue calls early Thursday morning, shortly after 5 a.m., in the northeastern part of the city, near the Perrin Beitel neighborhood. The department confirmed the deaths of five people and the ongoing search for the two missing individuals. According to local news reports, the deceased included two men and two women, with no further details available about the fifth victim.

The identities of the victims have not been released, except for a 77-year-old woman. Emergency responders believe that those rescued or found had initially been in their vehicles, stuck in traffic. However, as floodwaters rose, their vehicles were swept away, and some individuals ended up in trees.

The fire department reported that fifteen vehicles were washed away, and ten people were rescued. The department responded to at least seventy water rescue calls throughout the day. Four of the rescued individuals were transported to hospitals with minor injuries. The rescue operation was described as "extremely difficult," spanning several miles. The search continues for the two missing individuals.

The fire department noted that while many rescue calls involved assisting drivers from stalled vehicles, some were more critical, requiring crews to enter swiftly moving water. One woman, Angel Richards, shared that her husband, Stevie, was caught in the floodwaters while on his way to work. She described the experience as devastating, having been on the phone with him when the incident occurred.