Recent extreme heavy rains have hit Texas, causing record-breaking rainfall in multiple areas and triggering catastrophic flash floods. Governor Greg Abbott confirmed on Thursday that the floods have resulted in at least 2 deaths, with one person swept away by floodwaters near Uvalde and another tragically killed in Kerr County.
According to media reports, the intense rainfall mainly concentrated in the Texas Hill Country region, where a powerful storm dumped up to 20 centimeters of rain in just two hours, causing certain sections of the Guadalupe River to surge approximately 9.7 meters in water level within 4 hours.
Among the hardest-hit areas is Uvalde, which overnight transformed into a waterlogged land. The usually dry Leon River experienced a sudden surge, inundating streets and cutting off all land routes, effectively turning the entire city into an “island.”
Authorities have dispatched over 1,300 emergency personnel and National Guards to conduct numerous high-water rescue missions, assisting in evacuating residents and rescuing hundreds of stranded individuals.
Governor Abbott has declared a state of disaster in 59 counties across the state. As of Thursday, approximately 6 million residents in 57 counties in Texas remain under flood alert coverage, with some alerts expected to persist until Friday evening.
Meteorologists warn that this wave of heavy rains and “deadly flood peaks” may continue to pose threats to downstream areas. The governor specifically urges the public not to risk driving through flooded waters, to avoid potentially fatal dangers.