At least two people have died in flooding across central Texas – the same area that saw more than 130 deaths in flash floods last summer.
“Large and deadly” flooding from the Guadalupe River is expected to ravage the region, following days of torrential rain, the National Weather Service (NWS) in San Antonio reported. Last year’s flash floods originated from the same river.
Both victims were killed in vehicles swept away by the currents. Emergency responders have saved at least 230 people from the floods.
More than 130 people died in South Texas floods last July, including 25 children and two counsellors at Camp Mystic, an all-girls camp near Kerrville, Texas, located along the river.
Rain continued to batter the already flooded Texas region on Friday morning.
In a Thursday afternoon update, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced at least two people have died in the torrents.
One man was swept away in his camper van, and a woman was caught in the current as she drove her car down flooded roads.
The rainfall is “record-shattering”, he said.
“Through the weekend, we are expecting 30 inches of total rain,” Abbott wrote in a social media post. “This is higher than last year’s precipitation.”
“We will be doing everything possible to save human life.”
He added that there have been about 230 rescues. Rescuers used boats and helicopters, and waded through flooded streets to help those trapped in the water.
One moment caught on body cam footage showed a rescuer saving a family of three and their dogs, who were sheltering in their destroyed home. A girl was airlifted to safety, with the rescuer telling the rest of the family that another helicopter was on the way.
