Devastation and anguish in Texas: Floods leave 43 dead, including 15 children, and dozens missing.

The rains fell with devastating force. Early Friday morning, the sky unleashed a torrent of water equivalent to nearly half of the annual rainfall in Kerr County, in south-central Texas, in just a few hours. The flooding left at least 43 dead, including 15 children, and dozens missing, according to provisional reports from local authorities. This is an unprecedented event in the last century in the area, a predominantly rural region about 100 kilometers from San Antonio, where a summer camp was located that housed 750 girls. One of them died, and twenty others have yet to be located.

The group of children was caught in the rains while spending a few days at Camp Mystic, on the banks of the Guadalupe River. The river burst its banks after rising 8 meters in less than an hour. The mother of nine-year-old Janie Hunt confirmed to CNN on Saturday morning that her daughter had been found dead. Hours earlier, the woman had said she was praying to find her alive. The parents of the other girls whose whereabouts were unknown began posting photos on social media in the hope of obtaining information.

Authorities assured from the outset that they had launched a large-scale search operation. “We will do everything humanly possible [to find them], checking every tree, removing every rock, whatever it takes,” Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick told the girls' families.

Camp Mystic housed a total of 750 girls. Its website describes it as a "Christian," "healthy" place where children "develop qualities" and become "better people." The site was devastated by the floods. More than 100 park rangers were able to enter to provide aid to those affected since early Friday morning, and were able to begin rescue operations after noon.

The storms, which have been described as "catastrophic," have left more than 30 people dead. Sheriff Larry Leitha reported that at least 24 of these people lost their lives in Kerr County and another in neighboring Kendall County. Major General Thomas Suelzer, head of the Texas National Guard, said that rescue teams worked throughout Saturday night, and that so far more than 850 people have been rescued and evacuated from flooded areas. Most were treated and transported by helicopter, although specialized swimming teams are also deployed in the area. Representative Chip Roy, representing the district, confirmed that approximately 1,000 local, state, and federal personnel are assisting in the search efforts.

The storms in Kerr began around 4:00 a.m. on July 4. Reports show rainfall levels between 10 and 20 centimeters. In addition, levels of up to 38 centimeters were reported in some areas.

On Friday night, Republican Governor Greg Abbott signed a disaster declaration to ensure “local officials have the resources to continue responding to the flooding,” he wrote on his Twitter account. “Texas will stop at nothing to ensure every missing person is fully accounted for,” he wrote.

President Donald Trump promised federal aid and called the events "a terrible situation." He also wrote on social media that his prayers are with "all the families affected by this terrible tragedy." "Our brave first responders are on the scene doing what they do best. May God bless the families and Texas!" he added.

Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem asserted that she has been working to "provide every resource possible" to the victims and to "bring Americans in crisis to safety." To this end, she explained, the resources of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), whose mission is to assist victims in any disaster, were activated. FEMA is currently decimated and at risk of being dismantled by the Trump administration. Noem herself recently stated that the agency should change its name and that the states themselves should be responsible for managing their emergencies.

The head of Homeland Security also confirmed that the U.S. Coast Guard is working in the affected area to evacuate residents at risk. "We will fly all night and as long as possible. This is what the men and women of the Coast Guard do," she said.