Tragic Flooding in Central Texas Leads to Rising Death Toll

In a devastating series of events, the flooding that struck central Texas on July 4 has resulted in a reported 119 fatalities as of Wednesday morning, a figure that local officials anticipate may rise. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha has indicated that there are 161 individuals unaccounted for in the region hit hardest by the flooding, which includes five girls and a counselor from an all-girls summer camp located near the Guadalupe River.

Additionally, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Tuesday evening that the number of individuals unaccounted for across the entire state has reached at least 173. In a show of respect for those who have lost their lives, he has mandated that state flags be flown at half-staff until sunrise on July 14. In a related occurrence, flash floods in the village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, have resulted in three fatalities, according to officials in that state. The National Weather Service has reported that, on average, floods claim the lives of 113 people annually in the U.S. over the past ten years, which represents nearly 16% of all weather-related fatalities.