Deaths climb and Trump declares emergency in Texas

The death toll in the floods occurred in the south-central Texas rose to 78 on Sunday (6), according to local authorities, while hundreds of staff and volunteers continue the search. Also this Sunday, the president of the United States, Donald Trumpsigned an emergency declaration of natural disaster.

“These families are dealing with unimaginable tragedy, many lives have been lost and many others are still missing,” wrote the agent on his account on the Truth Social platform.

The decision allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to be activated in the area to support local and state authorities, the secretary of the National Security Department, Kristi Noem, said in a statement.

Victims

“We will continue the search until we find everyone,” said Larry Leitha Jr, sheriff of Kerr County, recognizing that the number of dead “will increase.”

There are still missing 11 minors and young people who spent summer at the Christian camp for Mystic girls near the city of Hunt, added Leitha.

In Kerr, more than 400 rescuers from 20 federal and state government agencies will continue their search and rescue efforts on Sunday.

Local authorities refused to estimate the possible number of missing people with floods, as many people from outside the region were camped in the area for the 4th of July, the United States Independence Day.

Floods cause destruction

In all, more than 850 people have been evacuated without injury and eight were injured in the area, where more than 160 rescues were made by air.

Kerrville’s municipal manager in Kerr County Dalton Rice said on Saturday that this is the worst flood in the region since 1987, when ten teenagers died.

The National Meteorology Service said that more than 30 centimeters of rain accumulated in a period of just 12 hours on Friday, raising the Guadalupe River near Hunt to its second highest level ever recorded, 9.9 meters.