Texas Floods Kill 70; Camper Survives 20-Mile River Ordeal

At least 70 people have died after torrential rain sent the Guadalupe River and smaller tributaries surging through Central Texas over the Independence Day weekend. Emergency officials said the water level on parts of the river jumped 26 feet in just 45 minutes, sweeping away vehicles, campsites and homes across Kerr and surrounding counties.

Among the few confirmed survivors, 21-year-old Devyn Smith of Midland was carried roughly 20 miles downstream before she managed to climb a tree near Center Point and shout for help. Local resident Carl Jeter alerted authorities, and swift-water teams pulled Smith to safety after she had clung to the trunk for several hours. She was treated in hospital for hypothermia and minor injuries. Smith had been camping with five relatives; none of them have yet been found.

Search crews are still looking for at least 27 girls who disappeared when floodwaters swept through Camp Mystic near Hunt. President Donald Trump has approved a major disaster declaration for Kerr County, unlocking federal assistance as state and local responders deploy boats, helicopters and drones to comb the debris-strewn landscape. Officials warned that the casualty count could rise as receding water reveals additional damage and missing-person reports continue to come in.