Heartbreaking new details are surfacing about several young girls still missing following catastrophic flooding in Central Texas over the July 4 holiday weekend.
According to CNN, at least 24 people have been confirmed dead in Kerr County, and one in nearby Kendall County, after torrential rains caused the Guadalupe River to overflow, triggering one of the worst floods the region has ever seen.
Among those unaccounted for are 23 girls from Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls summer camp located near the Guadalupe River, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick confirmed in a press conference, as reported by WFAA. The river reportedly reached its second-highest level on record, according to ABC’s Eyewitness News.
Families Still Searching, Praying
Hadley Hannah, 8, of Dallas, is one of the missing girls, her mother told WFAA. FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth reports that Hadley’s father is on the ground in Kerr County, actively participating in the search.
Two more young girls from Dallas — Eloise Peck and Lila Bonner — are also missing. The two were reportedly sharing a cabin with several other girls at Camp Mystic before the floodwaters struck.
Families and friends have turned to social media, pleading for help and sharing photos of missing campers. The OKCM Search & Rescue Team has posted images of several missing girls, including Eloise, Lila, and Janie Hunt.
“We are just praying,” Hunt’s mother told CNN, holding on to hope after receiving news of her daughter’s disappearance.
Other girls confirmed missing by family members and local outlets include Kellyanne Lytal, Molly DeWitt, and Lainey Landry, according to reports from KSAT, Fox 26 Houston, and CNN.
School, Community in Mourning
Greta Toranzo, a student at Sinclair Elementary School, is also unaccounted for. The school shared a heartfelt message on Instagram:
“We are devastated to share that one of our Sinclair students is missing from Camp Mystic in the Kerr County Floods. Her parents have asked that her picture be shared far and wide as they search for her. Please keep Greta and her family in your thoughts.”
Virginia Hollis, another Camp Mystic attendee, remains missing as well.
Overnight Evacuation, Massive Search Underway
KSAT reported that an overnight evacuation was carried out at Camp Mystic as the river rapidly rose.
In a statement released on July 4, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said the state is mobilizing all available resources to support Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt, and the rest of the Texas Hill Country in the aftermath of the floods.
“The State of Texas today has mobilized additional resources in addition to the resources sent in preparation for the storms,” Abbott said.
“I urge Texans to heed guidance from state and local officials and monitor local forecasts to avoid driving into flooded areas.”
As search and rescue efforts continue, the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office has not yet released further updates on the status of the missing girls.
Loved ones and the public are clinging to hope as rescue teams scour the area in a race against time.
