Texas floods: Death toll rises to 80, including 28 children as desperate search continues for summer campers

The death toll from devastating floods in central Texas has reached 80 as a desperate search for dozens of children campers continues.

At least four girls missing from a summer camp were found dead and were among at least 28 children killed in what Texas GOP Congressman Chip Roy described as a “once-in-a-century flood”.

There are 10 young girls and one counsellor from Camp Mystic summer camp still missing as of Sunday afternoon (local time), according to authorities.

Larry Leith, the Kerr County Sheriff in Texas Hill Country, said search and rescue efforts are still underway.

The all-girls summer camp was being held near the Guadalupe River, which broke its banks after torrential rain fell in the central Texas area on Friday.

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said Camp Mystic had 700 girls on site at the time of the flood.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott, speaking at a press conference on Sunday afternoon, said 41 people were confirmed as missing.

The Governor did not say how many of the dead outside Kerr were children.

“It was nothing short of horrific to see what those young children went through,” said Mr Abbott, who said he toured the area on Saturday and pledged to continue efforts to locate the missing.

US President Donald Trump has announced continued federal support for the state and said his administration, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, was working closely with state and local officials.

“We’ll continue to be there. And we’re working very closely with representatives from Texas, and it’s a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible,” Mr Trump told reporters.

“So we say, God bless all of the people that have gone through so much, and God bless, God bless the state of Texas.”

Officials said on Saturday that more than 850 people had been rescued, including some clinging to trees, after a sudden storm dumped up to 38cm of rain across the region, about 140km northwest of San Antonio.

It was unclear exactly how many people in the area were still missing.

“Everyone in the community is hurting,” Mr Leitha told reporters.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency was activated on Sunday and is deploying resources to first responders in Texas after President Donald Trump issued a major disaster declaration, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.

United States Coast Guard helicopters and planes are helping the search and rescue efforts, DHS said.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees NOAA, said a “moderate” flood watch issued on Thursday by the National Weather Service had not accurately predicted the extreme rainfall and said the administration was working to upgrade the system.

More rain was expected in the area on Sunday.

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for Kerr County until 1pm local time.

The disaster unfolded rapidly on Friday morning as heavier-than-forecast rain drove river waters rapidly to as high as nine metres.

A day after the disaster struck, the camp was a scene of devastation.

Inside one cabin, mud lines indicating how high the water had risen were at least 1.83 metres from the floor.

Bed frames, mattresses and personal belongings caked with mud were scattered inside.

Some buildings had broken windows, one had a missing wall.

- With Reuters