Flood death toll rises in Texas, over 88

At the moment there are at least 59 victims, including at least 15 children, and still many missing. Many little ones are missing, as the floods hit an area of summer camps. The director and co-owner of a girls' camp in Hunt was also found dead, while 20 girls from another camp are still missing.

Kerr County authorities have urged residents to stay at home so as not to expose themselves to risk and not to hinder the work of rescuers, who are busy searching for people who may have been swept away by the water.

Words of condolence from Donald Trump: 'This is terrible. The floods? They are shocking. We don't know yet how many people have died, but it looks like some young people have died,' the US president told reporters on board Air Force One. Asked if there will be federal aid, he replied:"Oh yes, we will take care of them. We are working with the governor. It's a terrible thing.

It would seem that for the inhabitants it is not yet time to breathe a sigh of relief. "Further rainfall is expected in the area. And even if they should be light, there is a possibility of worsening flooding", authorities warned, urging caution. "We are trying to identify the people" who have died.

The alert was triggered overnight. The first emergency call reached the authorities at around 4.26am local time. Then it was a flurry. Initial rescue efforts were slowed down by heavy rain, but are now fully operational.

On social media, some parents posted pictures of some of the girls hoping to be able to locate them. A Walmart department store in the area is currently being used as a meeting and rescue point for those who cannot access their homes because of the water.

The flood is reminiscent of the deadly one that occurred in the same area in July 1987, when the level of the Guadalupe River rose nine metres, sweeping away a school bus and a van carrying teenagers to a nearby summer camp. Then 10 boys died and 33 others were saved by clinging to tree branches until help arrived.

The flooding toll of the last few hours could easily exceed that of 1987, authorities admitted, noting how in some areas of Kerr the rain of an entire summer fell in the space of a few hours. The picture is made worse by the dry soils in the area flooding very quickly. In just three hours, the level of the Guadalupe River rose by 6.7 metres, reaching one of its highest levels in history. A few hours later, however, the hydrometer to measure it was damaged by the waters.

"On behalf of the Italian people and on my own personal behalf, I would like to express our deep sympathy for the victims and the missing caused by the floods in Texas. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims and those who are waiting to know the fate of their missing loved ones. At a time of such grave mourning for the friendly people of the United States, I wish to convey to you, Mr President, the sentiments of my sincerest condolences and those of the Italian Republic'. Thus the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, in a message to Donald Trump.

Shortly afterwards, also the words of Giorgia Meloni. "I learn with sorrow the news of the devastating flood that hit Kerr County, Texas, this night, causing numerous deaths and many missing, among which there would also be several children present in the area for a summer camp. All my sincerest sympathy, and that of the Italian government, to the families of the victims and to the people of the United States,' the Prime Minister wrote on social media.

"I am following with sorrow the news of the disaster that has struck Texas: the floods have swept away many campsites with young people and children. My thoughts go out to the young lives lost: I am close to their families and I am following the incessant work of the rescue teams that have been trying for hours to locate the missing. In these hours of mourning and tragedy, the Italian people is close to the American people," were the words of Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on X. The President of the Chamber of Deputies, Lorenzo Fontana, also commented on the tragedy: 'I am deeply touched by the news coming out of Texas. My thoughts are with the victims of this terrible flood, the families and all those who are experiencing hours of anguish for their loved ones. I am close to the local community, wounded by this drama, and I extend my sympathetic thoughts to the people of the United States at this time of great sorrow'.