Rescue teams in central Texas are battling time and weather to locate survivors after catastrophic flash floods destroyed a children's camp overnight, killing at least 82 people. Helicopters scour debris-strewn landscapes as new storms threaten to disrupt ongoing operations, complicating efforts to find those still missing.
The disaster, described by survivors as 'a wall of water' that engulfed cabins within minutes, has prompted a federal disaster declaration to expedite resources. Emergency crews from neighboring states have joined local responders, deploying boats and drones in submerged areas.
'We heard trees snapping like twigs before the water reached our roof,' said one survivor, among dozens evacuated from the remote campsite. Authorities warn that rising river levels could delay recovery efforts as meteorological agencies track developing weather systems across the region.
With communication networks partially restored, families await updates at temporary shelters while officials coordinate identification processes for victims. The incident marks one of Texas' deadliest flood events in decades, raising questions about emergency preparedness in rural recreational areas.
