Zelensky expresses condolences over Texas flood with 51 dead and 27 children missing
The Guadalupe River rose eight meters in just forty-five minutes, turning the night into a disaster. Homes, trailers, and a children’s camp were swept away.
Photo: @GuessWhoTexas / x.com
USA, State of Texas — In central Texas, the Guadalupe River surged eight meters in just forty-five minutes due to heavy rain, which, according to AP News, claimed the lives of at least 51 people, including 15 children.
According to The Washington Post, the state deployed a thousand rescuers, fourteen helicopters, and ten drones. Teams are evacuating people from flooded neighborhoods, trailer parks, and campsites, and searching for 27 girls missing from Camp Mystic.
Governor Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster in fifteen counties and requested assistance from FEMA. The National Weather Service forecasts more heavy rain in the next two days, which could hinder search and recovery efforts.
On the evening of July 5, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted condolences to the United States, the people of Texas, and the families of the victims on X, wishing strength to rescuers and hoping for the safe return of the missing children.
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said there was no warning system in place and that the dam withstood a load beyond its design limits. Meteorologists recorded up to 300 mm of rainfall per hour and linked the storm to a moist front from the Gulf of Mexico.