At least 27 children and counselors from a popular all-girls Christian summer camp have died after powerful flash floods swept through central Texas, the camp said in a statement Monday. The search for others still missing has now entered its fourth day.
“Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy,” Camp Mystic officials said in a statement. “We are praying for them constantly.”
Officials say it’s still unclear how many of the 27 people confirmed dead from Camp Mystic were children and how many were counselors. Across Texas, at least 81 people have died in the flooding since Friday, according to USA Today.
In Kerr County, where the worst flooding happened, authorities said on Sunday that 10 children and one counselor from Camp Mystic were still among the dozens of people missing.
Camp Mystic’s director, Richard “Dick” Eastland, is among those confirmed dead. According to his son, Eastland lost his life while trying to save campers as the floodwaters rapidly swept through the camp, the Texas Tribune reported.
About 700 children were at the camp when heavy rain caused the nearby Guadalupe River to rise more than 26 feet in under an hour, according to Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Photos from the scene show a building where some of the children slept with shattered windows and a collapsed wall. Among the muddy wreckage were pink blankets and stuffed animals.
By Monday, rescue teams were still searching through the flooded area, hoping to find any remaining survivors. Officials said at least 41 people were known to be missing, but warned the real number could be higher, since many families were vacationing in the Texas Hill Country when the disaster struck per USA Today.
Camp Mystic is a historic Christian summer camp for girls ages 8 to 17, located along the Guadalupe River in the scenic Texas Hill Country. Founded in 1926, the camp has welcomed generations of families for nearly a century, offering activities like archery, horseback riding, swimming, theater, and Bible study in a faith-centered environment. The camp emphasizes spiritual growth, character-building, and friendship. Camp Mystic has long been a cherished tradition for Texas families. Each summer, it hosts hundreds of campers across several sessions.
