Flash floods kill 67 in US state of Texas

ISTANBUL

Flash floods killed 67 people in the US state of Texas, officials said Sunday as search operations continue for missing people.

The highest death toll came from Kerr County, which reported 59 deaths.

"As of 9 am this morning, we recorded 59 deceased in Kerr County," Kerr County Sheriff Larry L. Leitha confirmed the death toll during a media briefing.

He said 38 of the deceased are adults and the remaining 21 are children.

Eighteen adults and four children are yet to be identified, Leitha said.

Eleven campers from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls, remain unaccounted for along with one counselor.

Leitha said more than 400 first responders from 20 agencies are conducting search operations using dozens of K9 police dogs and over 100 air, water, and ground vehicles.

Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice warned against personal drone use, saying: "What we're starting to see is personal drones that are flying ... that is a danger to aircraft, which then risk ... further operations."

Eight more deaths were reported from other counties around the state, according to CNN. It said four people were killed in Travis County, three in Burnet County and another one in Kendall County.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County on Sunday "to ensure that our Brave First Responders immediately have the resources they need."

The declaration provides federal assistance for individuals and public infrastructure.

Trump said on Truth Social that Coast Guard and state responders "have saved more than 850 lives."

The flooding began late Thursday and lasted into the early hours of Friday, as heavy rains engulfed the Guadalupe River, pushing it to a crest of more than 39 feet (11.8 meters), surpassing the region's second-largest modern flood in 1987.