A desperate rescue effort is underway in Kerr County, Texas, after flash floods devastated the region, leaving at least 24 people dead and several young girls missing from a private Christian summer camp. Camp Mystic, located along the Guadalupe River, has become the focus of intense search operations after it was swept by floodwaters brought on by unprecedented rainfall over the July 4 weekend.
Authorities have mobilised over 1,000 emergency responders, 14 helicopters, boats, and drones to locate survivors. So far, 237 individuals have been rescued, many of them airlifted from rooftops and trees. Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed that search and rescue operations will continue around the clock until all missing persons are accounted for.
Catastrophic Rainfall and Devastating Flood Surge
I’ve been trying to wrap my head around how the flooding in Texas became so devastating so quickly. Why not evacuate??
— Kylie Jane Kremer (@KylieJaneKremer) July 5, 2025
Then I saw this: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes, around 4 a.m.
That doesn’t even seem natural. pic.twitter.com/CrCzXpu09V
Between 4 and 5 July, a staggering 5 to 11 inches of rain fell across the parched Hill Country in under two hours. Fuelled by the remnants of Tropical Storm Barry, the rainfall caused the Guadalupe River to swell by 26 to 29 feet, reaching its second-highest level in recorded history. The resulting surge destroyed homes, submerged roads, and collapsed bridges across Kerr County, particularly impacting riverside communities.
In the midst of this devastation, Camp Mystic became an epicentre of concern. The camp, which was hosting 750 attendees at the time, now faces mounting anxiety as officials confirm that more than 20 girls remain unaccounted for.
The Missing Girls from Camp Mystic
While an official list of the missing has not yet been released by authorities, concerned families and community members have taken to social media platforms, such as the Kerrville Breaking News Facebook group, to track updates. According to posts shared by non-profit search and rescue organisation Cajun Navy 2016, the names of the missing girls include Virginia Hollis, Mary Grace Baker, Blakely McCory, Hadley Hanna, Lainey Landrey, Janie Hunt, Eloise Peck, Lila Bonner, Renee Smajstrla, Molly Dewitt, Linnie McCown, Margaret Sheedy, Kellyanne Lytal, Wynne Naylor Dallas, Cile Steward, Anna Margaret Bellows, Greta Toranzo, Sarah Marsh, and Shawn Salta.
Emergency services remain focused on locating these individuals. As Governor Abbott emphasised, 'They will continue in the darkness of night... nonstop, seeking to find everybody who is unaccounted for.'
This is an updated list of the missing children from Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas from the catastrophic floods. If any of you have additional info or know of any others that are missing that we...
Confirmed Fatalities and Campwide Response
Tragically, several deaths have already been confirmed. Nine-year-old Janie Hunt was found dead, her mother told CNN. The families of Renee Smajstrla and Shawn Salta also confirmed their passing to The Washington Post.
In a heartbreaking announcement, Camp Mystic also confirmed the death of Jane Ragsdale, longtime co-owner and director of the affiliated Heart O' The Hills camp. 'We are mourning the loss of a woman who influenced countless lives and was the definition of strong and powerful,' the statement read.
Wider Response and Ongoing Operations
Updates from the Texas flooding:
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) July 5, 2025
• 27 dead (including 9 children)
• 27 girls still missing from Camp Mystic
• Officials unsure how many others are missing
• Parts of Central Texas could get 10 more inches of rain today pic.twitter.com/rL8uBcCSHD
According to Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, officials have contacted all 18 camps along the Guadalupe River. As of Friday evening, Camp Mystic was the only camp where individuals were still reported missing. 'The far majority of those camps have their campers and have already contacted their families... We are focused on the ones that cannot help themselves right now,' Kidd stated during a press briefing.
More than 200 people have already been rescued across Kerr County, and emergency crews continue their relentless efforts. With families praying for news, the coming hours remain critical in the race against time to find the remaining girls from Camp Mystic.
