Rescue operations are intensifying in Texas on July 5, 2025, as authorities search for three missing girls, aged 6 to 12, swept away by flash floods that have claimed 10 lives statewide.
The floods, triggered by 8 inches of rain in 6 hours on July 4, devastated rural areas near Austin, with the Blanco River overflowing, submerging 50 homes and stranding 200 residents. The Texas Division of Emergency Management deployed 300 rescuers, 20 helicopters, and 50 boats, recovering 5 bodies, including a 45-year-old man, but the girls remain unaccounted for after a family vehicle was swept off Highway 29.
Governor Greg Abbott declared a state of emergency, allocating $10 million for relief, as 70% of the affected region faces power outages and 40% lack clean water. The National Weather Service warns of another 4 inches by July 7, with 60% of residents evacuating.
The girls’ family, supported by 1,000 volunteers, holds vigils, while FEMA pledges $5 million, though critics note a 30% delay in prior flood responses. The search, hampered by 10-foot currents, continues, with hopes fading as debris clogs rescue routes.