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Hundreds of rescuers continued their efforts on Tuesday to search for individuals swept away by devastating floods in Texas that have resulted in the deaths of over 100 people, as officials warned of the possibility of additional heavy rain.
By Tuesday morning, authorities in Kerr County, the area most affected, had located the bodies of 87 victims, according to Sheriff Larry Leitha during a press briefing.
Among the deceased are at least 27 girls and counsellors who were at a youth summer camp along the Guadalupe River during the Fourth of July weekend.
In total, local officials reported at least 108 fatalities related to the flooding across central Texas.
Ben Baker from the Texas Game Wardens said that search and rescue operations, which involve helicopters, drones, and dogs, were extremely challenging due to the presence of water and mud.
“When we’re trying to make these recoveries, these large piles can be very obstructive, and to get in deep into these piles, it’s very hazardous,” Baker said.
He also noted the importance of monitoring the mental health of first responders, especially since they were recovering the remains of children.
In the town of Hunt, the epicentre of the tragedy, recovery workers were sifting through debris while helicopters hovered above, as hopes for finding survivors faded.
Javier Torres, 24, was searching through mud for his grandmother’s body after having found his grandfather’s remains. He also came across the bodies of two children, who seemed to have been washed ashore by the river.
Officials warned that the forecast of more heavy rain would complicate recovery efforts even further.
President Donald Trump planned to visit Texas on Friday, as the White House rebuked critics who claimed his budget cuts to weather agencies had weakened their ability to issue warnings.
The president, who has previously said that disaster relief should be managed at the state level, has signed a declaration of a major disaster, which activates additional federal funding and makes resources available.
