Texas flood death toll hits 59, 11 girls still missing from Camp Mystic

The death toll from the catastrophic Texas Hill Country floods has risen to 59 — with that figure expected to rise sharply because nearly at least 12 people remain missing.

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said among those confirmed dead are 38 adults and 21 children, but  18 adult victims and four children have not yet been identified.

Leitha said that 11 girls and one counsellor are still missing from Camp Mystic, the Christian girls’ summer camp just off the banks of the Guadalupe River. Five campers, ages 8 and 9, have been confirmed dead in the flooding — along with the camp’s owner.

When asked why the camps weren’t evacuated before the water level rose, and whether emergency alerts went out in time, Leitha and city manager Dalton Rice declined to comment, abruptly ending Sunday’s 10 a.m. press conference.

Some 400 first responders from 20 agencies city, state and national are continuing the rescue operation in Kerr County, which saw the worst of the flash flooding along the river.

“We will continue our search efforts until everyone is found,” Leitha assured, urging those who need to report missing loved ones to call 830-258-1111.