At least 104 people have died across six counties in central Texas after devastating flash floods swept through the region on July 4, as search efforts enter their fifth day. The flooding ravaged riverside communities along the Guadalupe River.
The hardest-hit area is Kerr County, reporting 84 victims—including 28 children. Among the confirmed dead are 27 girls and staff from Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls’ summer camp severely affected by the rising waters.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with more than 20 state agencies and hundreds of volunteers combing the mud-covered terrain for at least 24 people still missing.
While scattered showers remain possible, forecasters expect a drier pattern through the rest of the week. Meanwhile, the White House has dismissed concerns that budget cuts to the National Weather Service affected the emergency response.
In 2024 alone, the US experienced 27 weather and climate disasters costing at least US$1 billion each in damages. That is a staggering figure and one that cannot be ignored. These disasters are fueled by the nation's vast and diverse geography, which has everything from hurricane-prone coastlines to tornado alleys and wildfire-vulnerable regions. Additionally, human-driven climate change is intensifying these events, making them more frequent and severe.
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