More than 100 dead in Texas flash floods as search for missing continues

The death toll in the devastating flash floods in Texas has risen to 104 people, according to local authorities, as search and recovery efforts continue across several counties.

Flash floods across central Texas over the Fourth of July weekend have killed more than a 100 people, with search operations still underway for those missing, including several girls attending a summer camp in Kerr County.

The floods hit hardest along the Guadalupe River outside San Antonio, where a combination of severe overnight storms and the region's flood-prone landscape triggered catastrophic water surges.

Local officials are now facing scrutiny over their preparedness and early response.

Earlier, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back on criticism that the National Weather Service failed to provide adequate warning.

“They gave out timely flash flood alerts. There were record-breaking lead times in the leadup to this catastrophe. There is ongoing flood monitoring, and these offices were well staffed,” she said.

As of Monday evening local time, 10 girls and a counselor from the camp were still unaccounted.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is saddened by the loss of life due to the flooding in the U.S. state of Texas, his spokesperson said Monday.

"The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life, notably of a large number of children, caused by the recent floods in Texas, which struck during what should have been a time of celebration over the holiday weekend," said the spokesman Stephane Dujarric in a statement.

Guterres extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and expresses his solidarity with all those impacted, the people of Texas and the U.S. government, said the spokesman.

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