(Hunt) Research continues in difficult conditions Tuesday in central Texas, in the middle of mud and rubble, five days after the devastating floods that left nearly 110 dead.
Kerr’s only county, the hardest hit, deplores 87 dead, including 30 children. In total, at least 108 dead linked to the floods were reported in the center of the state, according to a latest assessment.
Among these victims are 27 children and monitors of the Christian holiday camp for camp girls, on the banks of the Guadalupe river, which hosted some 750 people.
The excavations, which mobilize helicopters, drones and cynophile teams, are still underway to find other victims.
Photo Eli Hartman, Associated Press
Volunteers on horseback participate in research near the Guadalupe river in Ingram, Texas, after the floods.
“Entering deeply into the piles (debris) is very dangerous,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Ben Baker, of the Texas Gardes Corps at a press conference.
It is a work “perilous, long and painful”, added Ben Baker, adding that 300 of them participated in research.
The center of the state is no longer concerned Tuesday by flood alerts, but “episodes isolated from strong precipitation is possible,” warned meteorological services.
“This will change our patrols and research, but it will not prevent them,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Baker.
Photo Eli Hartman, Associated Press
Boat rescuers, supported by divers and probes, are looking for bodies near the Christian holiday camp for Camp Mystic girls, where 27 children perched by the flood.
The influx of curious also complicates research operations, according to the police.
“Our help have a lot of trouble accessing the areas where they have to go because of the large number of people cluttering our roads,” said Jonathan Lamb, of the Kerrville police during the press conference.
Pressed questions on possible failures of the alert system during the floods, the authorities refused to answer.
Read “Mortal Floods in Texas:” One of the worst scenarios “”
“We understand that you have a lot of questions,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Baker, promising “answers”. “But, for the moment, priority is to bring people back home. »»
