At least 24 people have been killed and over 20 children have gone missing in Texas due to flash floods in recent hours.

The Guadalupe River swelled 26 feet in less than an hour while people were celebrating July 4, causing the floods to wash away mobile homes, automobiles, and vacation cottages.

At least 24 individuals have died, and rescue workers are still looking for up to 25 youngsters who were among the 750 girls attending Camp Mystic, a summer camp located outside of Kerrville.

The camp, which opened in 1926, is designed to help girls in grades two and higher gain confidence and independence.

Following the flooding, it lost WiFi, power, and water.

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick noted that the missing children are not necessarily ‘lost,’ stating, “They could be out of communication.”

Dalton Rice, Kerrville’s municipal manager, explained why the Guadalupe River has risen so swiftly.

He informed the reporters, “When you look at the headwaters of the Guadalupe, there are two forks: north and south.

“Under normal conditions, you’ll hit water in one of those areas, and those two forks will converge into the Guadalupe, which comes through Kerrville.”

Rice went on to say, “This rainstorm perched on top of it and delivered more rain than was expected on both forks.

“When we got the report, it was about 7 feet or so on the south fork, and within a matter of minutes it was up to 29 feet, and all of that converged at Guadalupe.”

Col. Freeman Martin, head of the Texas Department of Public Safety, stated on Friday (July 4) that “we brought in about 100 troopers this morning. And they’ve been working all day: rescues, high-water vehicles, boats, rescue divers, and seven rescue helicopters with hoist capability.

Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, made the following statement: “We will stop at nothing to ensure that every asset and person and plane, whatever is needed, is going to be involved in the process of rescuing every last person and ensure everybody involved in this is going to be fully accounted for.”

President Donald Trump has spoken to the press, calling the flooding “awful.”

“It looks like some young people have died,” Trump said, adding that his government will work with Abbott to offer relief and support to the state during this terribly sad time.

In a statement issued earlier on Friday, Abbott stated, “Texas is providing all necessary resources to Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt, and the entire Texas Hill Country dealing with these devastating floods.”

“The State of Texas has deployed extra resources today, in addition to those dispatched to prepare for the storms.

“I urge Texans to heed guidance from state and local officials and monitor local forecasts to avoid driving into flooded areas.”