More than 160 people still missing days after deadly Texas flood

More than 160 people remain unaccounted for after devastating floods swept through central Texas, Governor Greg Abbott said Tuesday. The flash floods, which began in the early hours of Friday, have so far claimed 109 lives.

"Just in the Kerr County area alone, there are 161 people who are known to be missing," Abbott said at a news conference. "There very likely could be more added to that list," he warned, noting that the figure reflects missing persons reported by relatives, friends, and neighbors.

  Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks to the media at a press conference in the aftermath of deadly flooding in Hunt, Texas, U.S., July 8, 2025.Reuters

Kerr County hardest hit

Kerr County, located in a region dubbed “Flash Flood Alley,” suffered the most devastation. At least 94 of the confirmed fatalities were in the area, including 27 girls and counselors from a youth summer camp on the Guadalupe River. The river surged overnight as Fourth of July celebrations began, sweeping through cabins where campers were sleeping.

As of Tuesday evening, five campers and one counselor remained missing, along with another child not affiliated with the camp.

“There’s nothing more important in our hearts and minds than the people of this community, especially those who are still lost,” Abbott said.

At least 15 additional deaths have been reported in other parts of the state.

Dangerous recovery conditions

Ben Baker with the Texas Game Wardens described the rescue and recovery efforts as extremely difficult. Helicopters, drones and search dogs have been deployed, but floodwaters and debris piles are slowing progress.

“When we’re trying to make these recoveries, these large piles can be very obstructive,” Baker said. “It’s extremely treacherous, time-consuming. It’s dirty work, the water is still there.”

Flood emergency in New Mexico

Meanwhile, the U.S. National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency in Ruidoso, New Mexico, where several people were reportedly trapped by sudden floodwaters. The Rio Ruidoso River rose more than 20 feet, damaging multiple homes.

Grief and questions in Hunt

In the town of Hunt, near the disaster’s epicenter, recovery teams continued to comb through debris. Javier Torres, 24, was digging through mud, searching for his grandmother after having found his grandfather’s body. He also discovered the remains of two children.

Officials warned that more rain could hamper search efforts. Still, Baker said it “won’t deter” the teams at work.

Presidential visit and mounting scrutiny

President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Texas with First Lady Melania Trump on Friday. “We brought in a lot of helicopters from all over... They were real pros,” Trump said. “They were responsible for pulling out a lot of people.”

At the same time, criticism has mounted over the federal government’s response. Questions were raised about funding cuts to emergency services and whether those reductions impacted warning systems or the speed of the rescue operation.

Baker declined to directly address the concerns, saying only, “Right now, this team up here is focused on bringing people home.”

Climate, drought worsened flooding

Experts pointed to a combination of geography and climate conditions as key factors behind the scale of the disaster. Shel Winkley of Climate Central said the exceptional drought had left the soil in the region unable to absorb rainfall.

“This part of Texas, at least in the Kerr County flood specifically, was in an extreme to exceptional drought,” Winkley said. “We know that since May, temperatures have been above average.”

Tom Di Liberto, the group’s media director, added that staffing shortages at the National Weather Service also played a role.

“You can’t necessarily replace that experience,” he said.