Texas flood death toll rises to 131 as more rain looms

The death toll from the devastating floods in Texas has reached 131, with heavy rain forecast again just 10 days after the Hill Country disaster according to local authorities.

The official count of storm-related deaths across Texas climbed to 131 on Monday as forecasters warned of another wave of torrential rain expected to hit central Texas overnight.

A National Weather Service flood watch remains in effect through to Tuesday morning, predicting up to six inches of rain in an area stretching from the Rio Grande to San Antonio and Austin. The alert includes Kerr County, which is still recovering from the 4 July flash flood that turned the Guadalupe River into a deadly torrent.

Governor Greg Abbott said most of the fatalities occurred in and around Kerrville, the county seat, and the nearby town of Hunt. Among the dead are many children who were attending Camp Mystic, a riverside Christian summer camp for girls, when floodwaters surged through before dawn.

Abbott said 97 people remain unaccounted for in the region. That figure is down from more than 160 reported last week.

Rescue teams have not found any survivors since the day of the flood, when more than a foot of rain fell in less than an hour in the heart of what meteorologists call flash flood alley. The intense rainfall overwhelmed the Guadalupe River basin, sweeping away buildings, vehicles, and people in its path.

Search operations along the river were suspended on Sunday due to ongoing flood risks. Residents in low-lying areas have been advised to move to higher ground until the danger passes.

The disaster ranks among the deadliest flood events in recent U.S. history. It has raised growing concern over emergency preparedness in the region. Critics have pointed to the lack of flash-flood sirens in Kerr County and staffing shortages at National Weather Service offices. Some attribute these gaps to federal budget cuts under the Trump administration.

Governor Abbott said a special legislative session would be convened later this month to examine the response to the flood and explore ways to improve early warning systems and disaster readiness.

Copied