What began as a summer retreat along the Guadalupe River turned deadly within minutes, as campers and families were caught in a flood few saw coming.
Search and rescue operations continue across Texas after record flooding claimed at least 51 lives. Officials say dozens remain unaccounted for, with hopes fading as crews comb through debris and submerged areas.
A large truck is impaled onto a tree after flash flooding on the bank Guadalupe River on July 5, 2025 in Center Point, Texas. | Source: Getty Images
Kerr County has been the hardest hit. Authorities confirmed 43 fatalities there, including 15 children. Many of the victims were at Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls, when floodwaters tore through the site. Twenty-seven children are still missing.
Other counties have also reported casualties. Travis County confirmed four deaths. Kendall and Tom Green counties each reported one. In Burnet County, two more deaths were announced late Saturday, pushing the statewide toll to 51.
A view inside of a cabin at Camp Mystic, the site of where at least 20 girls went missing after flash flooding in Hunt, Texas, on July 5, 2025. | Source: Getty Images
Emergency teams warn the toll may climb as recovery efforts continue. Multiple people remain missing across the region.
Initial reports on Friday placed the death toll at 24, with dozens missing after torrential rains triggered catastrophic flooding along the Guadalupe River. Kerr County bore the brunt of the disaster, as rivers surged and swept through low-lying areas.
A view inside of a cabin at Camp Mystic, the site of where at least 20 girls went missing after flash flooding in Hunt, Texas, on July 5, 2025. | Source: Getty Images
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed the Guadalupe River flooding alone accounted for 24 deaths. Many of the victims were children staying at summer camps in the region. Camp Mystic, one of the hardest-hit locations, remains a focal point of ongoing rescue efforts.
“We are not going to give any names at this time,” Sheriff Leitha said during a Friday night press conference. “We will be working around the clock 24/7 until everyone is found.”
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick said that as of Friday afternoon, about 23 children from Camp Mystic were still unaccounted for. By nightfall, officials were unable to confirm an updated number of missing. Emergency crews are continuing their search, navigating treacherous floodwaters and unstable terrain.
Texas Game Wardens confirmed on July 5 that rescue teams had reached Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp for girls. In a social media post, the agency shared images of the scene and wrote, “#TexasGameWardens have made entry into Camp Mystic with vehicles and are beginning to bring campers out!”
Established in 1926, Camp Mystic sits along the banks of the Guadalupe River near Kerrville. Nestled among cypress, live oak, and pecan trees, the camp is a fixture in the Texas Hill Country. Its riverside location, once a scenic retreat, became the center of rescue efforts after floodwaters surged through the area.
The flooding followed a burst of severe weather across Central Texas. Several inches of rain fell as thunderstorms swept through the region. The impact was intensified by what meteorologists describe as a “flood wave.”
Debris sits in the Guadalupe River after flash flooding damaged nearby buildings on July 5, 2025 in Center Point, Texas. | Source: Getty Images
According to the National Weather Service, a flood wave is a sudden surge in streamflow triggered by rain, snowmelt, or dam releases. In this case, the surge raced down the Guadalupe River, transforming the river’s pace in seconds.
A video posted to Facebook shows the wave approaching Center Point, Texas. Filmed from the Center Point Bridge, the footage reveals a roaring wall of water crashing through the riverbed. The current swelled instantly, churning with foam and debris.
Meteorologists say such waves can travel at speeds of 25 to 40 miles per hour during flash floods. “It’s literally a situation that’s unique to a flash flood area,” a forecaster from San Antonio’s WOAI said.
As recovery efforts continue, the identities of several children lost in the Camp Mystic flooding have been confirmed. Families are now sharing their grief publicly, honoring the lives of those who were swept away.
Debris and damaged infrastructure caused by flash flooding on the bank Guadalupe River on July 5, 2025 in Center Point, Texas. | Source: Getty Images
Among the confirmed victims is Renee Smajstrla. Her family shared the heartbreaking news on Facebook, thanking friends and first responders for their support.
“While not the outcome we prayed for, the social media outreach likely assisted the first responders in helping to identify her so quickly,” the post read. “She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic.”
Sarah Marsh was also confirmed deceased. Her grandmother released the news after days of searching. Marsh had been missing from Camp Mystic since the floodwaters hit.
Another young victim, Lila Bonner, was confirmed dead by her family in a statement to NBC5 in Dallas–Fort Worth. Described as deeply loved, her passing adds to the sorrow felt across the community.
Janie Hunt was also among the victims. Her mother confirmed the news to a local reporter. Friends and family remembered her as a bright spirit taken too soon.
While the death toll continues to rise, there have been stories of survival. Two girls were rescued by helicopter and flown to safety. Officials say more rescue operations are underway, but the situation remains fluid.
Among those still missing is a family of four who vanished while vacationing near Camp Mystic. Tivy High School soccer coach Reece Zunker, his wife Paula, and their two children were staying at a river house in Hunt when the floods struck.
Relatives reported them missing after they failed to make contact as waters surged through Kerr County. The Kerrville Daily Times reported that the family had been enjoying time along the river when floodwaters rose without warning. The search for them is ongoing.
Tragedy also struck the Brake family, who lost two members in the flooding. Joni Kay Brake, 66, and Robert Leroy Brake Sr., 67, were staying at an RV park cabin along the Guadalupe River in Kerrville. The couple had been visiting their youngest son.
“They were just down there yesterday fishing and enjoying the night,” said Ryan Brake, their grandson. The family became alarmed when floodwaters began to rise rapidly overnight.
Ryan described a frantic effort to reach the couple. His uncle, who had been sleeping in a nearby RV, woke up to find it being swept away. He managed to escape with his wife and dogs and quickly called the Brakes.
The couple answered the phone, but the situation escalated in minutes. “Between that phone call and the time that my uncle was able to reach where the cabins were, they were saying in that 7 minute span of time, cabins had been completely washed away,” Ryan said.
Damaged trees and debris lay on the bank Guadalupe River on July 5, 2025, in Center Point, Texas. | Source: Getty Images
Their disappearance underscores the speed and power of the floodwaters, which gave many little or no time to react. Search efforts for missing families continue amid dangerous conditions. Authorities continue to urge caution and ask for prayers as they search for the missing and support those affected.
