A volunteer fire chief in Texas is among dozens feared dead after catastrophic flooding swept through central parts of the state over the weekend.
Michael Phillips, chief of the Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department, was responding to an emergency when he was reportedly swept away by fast-rising waters in Cow Creek, Travis County, according to news reports.
The flooding, which inundated Central Texas and the hill country, has claimed at least 90 lives so far, with search and rescue efforts continuing into Sunday as authorities looked for survivors, including nearly a dozen girls missing from Camp Mystic, a local summer camp. More than 20 children are among the dead.
The sudden deluge, which followed days of heavy rain, has left entire communities devastated, with emergency crews stretched thin as they continue rescue and recovery operations.
The flooding was triggered by torrential rains that caused the Guadalupe River to rise over 25 feet in less than an hour, reaching its second-highest level on record near Hunt, Texas. This rapid surge overwhelmed communities along the river, leading to widespread devastation.
Camp Mystic, a girls’ summer camp in Kerr County, was among the hardest-hit areas, with several cabins reportedly swept away. As of Sunday, 23 campers remained unaccounted for, and search efforts are ongoing.
Governor Greg Abbott has declared a state of disaster in the affected counties and mobilised state resources, including the National Guard and swiftwater rescue teams, to assist local authorities. Emergency shelters have been established, and residents are urged to avoid flood zones and heed evacuation orders.
This disaster marks one of the deadliest flooding events in Texas in recent history, and officials warn that the death toll may rise as recovery efforts continue.
