A candlelight memorial was held in San Antonio on Monday night to remember the victims of the tragic flash floods that hit Kerrville and other portions of central Texas on 4 July, killing at least a 100 people, including children.
Search teams continue to make their way through muddy riverbanks in the hope of finding those who are still missing.
Dozens of locals, city officials, and community members raised candles in prayer and silence under the stars.
At the event, San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones said the tragedy is hard to comprehend.
“I can’t fathom the sorrow that many are feeling just an hour north of us, as they were, in the night’s darkness, enduring this rare weather occurrence that, sadly, claimed too many lives. And sadly, a few of the most at-risk.
While participants carried candles and signs that said 'Kerrville Strong,' Mayor Ortiz Jones promised ongoing assistance to the impacted communities.
"The task will proceed," she said. “It’s going to be quite a lengthy journey. As I mentioned to the Kerrville mayor, we will support them throughout the entire process. That's exactly what we should focus on during this period."
District One Mayor Sukh Kaur also addressed the vigil, and provided messages of solace and strength.
“Today we stand strong for those who are still reconstructing. We inhale for those who can no longer inhale. And we care for those who continue to mourn."
Among the many residents who came to pay their respects was Peter Peeroruac a 53-year-old, who described the past few days as overwhelming, and said everyone is united in their grief.
“It’s a lot of human suffering,” he said. “I saw a lot of devastation, chaos. Just needed some answers, and coming together with other people to share the same thoughts… this candlelight vigil may not be a lot, but it is something that we can all come together and share as a human emotion.”
It was a predawn storm that caused the catastrophic floods, transforming the usual peaceful Guadalupe River into an erupting flood that tore through towns and rural regions. The majority of the deaths happened in Kerrville, where a Christian girls' summer camp called Camp Mystic suffered enormous losses.
By Monday afternoon, officials said that 84 bodies had been retrieved in Kerr County, comprising of 56 adults and 28 children. Ten campers and one counselor from Camp Mystic were still missing, and at least 41 individuals were unaccounted for in adjacent counties.
San Antonio resident and an educator, Danielle Lopez said the death of so many children was heart breaking.
“Me as an educator and my sister as a mom, we have a very deep, soft space in our heart for children,” she said. “I’ve seen generations of my students grow. And I just wish that our children had the opportunity to grow, too. That’s what we’re here for—we protect all children just as we protect our own.”
Edwin Stephens lives locally and said the tragic event is incomprehensible. “I can’t fully understand what some parents are experiencing. It's simply very sad.
Despite the ongoing grief, officials remain focused on the search and rescue mission, though forecasts of further rain threaten to complicate efforts.
In the face of loss, the candlelight vigil in San Antonio offered a moment of unity and support for the families and communities left reeling in the wake of disaster.
The United States, on 30 July, announced sweeping sanctions on more than 115 individuals, entities, and vessels tied to Iran, weeks after bombing key ...
European forests are absorbing significantly less carbon dioxide than a decade ago, putting the European Union’s ambitious climate goals in jeopardy...
Türkiye continues to confront the devastating legacy of past earthquakes, Istanbul is taking a major step toward future precautions—with the launch...
A coalition of over 60 rights organisations has signed a letter addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron demanding reparations for Haiti, whose e...
Scientists have discovered thriving animal communities living off chemicals, not sunlight, at record depths in the Pacific Ocean’s Kuril-Kamchatka a...
The United States, on 30 July, announced sweeping sanctions on more than 115 individuals, entities, and vessels tied to Iran, weeks after bombing key nuclear sites, as part of its intensifying pressure campaign on Tehran.
Türkiye continues to confront the devastating legacy of past earthquakes, Istanbul is taking a major step toward future precautions—with the launch of an AI-powered disaster response system.
Voice actors across Europe are sounding the alarm over the rise of artificial intelligence in the dubbing industry, warning that the use of AI-generated voices could jeopardize jobs, creative quality, and intellectual property rights.
AnewZ and Agenzia di Stampa Italpress have signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation to develop and strengthen ties in the media sector.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
'Superman' continued to dominate the summer box office, pulling in another $57.25 million in its second weekend, as theatres welcome a wave of blockbuster competition following a challenging few years for the film industry.
The United States, on 30 July, announced sweeping sanctions on more than 115 individuals, entities, and vessels tied to Iran, weeks after bombing key nuclear sites, as part of its intensifying pressure campaign on Tehran.
A coalition of over 60 rights organisations has signed a letter addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron demanding reparations for Haiti, whose economy was burdened for decades by a 19th-century compensation debt to France.
AnewZ and Agenzia di Stampa Italpress have signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation to develop and strengthen ties in the media sector.
President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that the United States will impose a 25% tariff on imports from India starting August 1, along with an additional, unspecified penalty.
Azerbaijan will begin supplying 6 million cubic metres of gas to Syria this week under a swap deal with Türkiye, officials said, aiming to boost electricity generation in the war-torn country.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment