Central Floods In Texas United States Kills 78 People

JAKARTA - The devastating floods that occurred in Texas, United States have killed 78 people as of Sunday local time, while the search for girls missing from summer camp continues and fears of further flooding have prompted the evacuation of emergency response volunteers.

The floods came after the nearby Caadalupe River overflowed after heavy rains fell in central Texas on Friday, coinciding with the US Independence Day holiday.

The disaster occurred quickly when it rained heavier than expected causing river water to rise rapidly to a height of 29 feet (9 meters).

Sheriff Kerr County in Texas Hill Country Larry Leitha said 68 people died from flooding in his area, the epicenter of the flood, including 28 children.

Sementara, Gubernur Texas Greg Abbott yang berbicara dalam konferensi pers pada Minggu sore, mengatakan 10 orang lainnya tewas di tempat lain di Texas dan mengonfirmasi 41 orang hilang, dikutip dari Reuters 7 Juli.

The day after the disaster hit, summer camp, where 700 girls lived during the flood, became a heavily destroyed site. Inside one cabin, mud lines showing how high water had risen by at least six feet (1.83 m) from the floor.

The scope of beds, mattresses and personal items covered in mud is scattered inside. Some buildings have broken windows, one building has a missing wall.

President Donald Trump expressed his condolences to the victims, saying he might visit the area on Friday, adding his party had contacted the Governor of Abbott.

"It was a terrible thing, it was absolutely terrible. So we say, God bless everyone who has gone through so much, and God bless, God bless the state of Texas," he told reporters while leaving New Jersey.

Among the most devastating impacts of flooding at Camp Mystic's summer camp, a nearly a century-old Christian girl camp, in which 10 Camp Mystic camp participants and a counselor are still missing, according to Sheriff Leitha.

"It's terrible to see what the little kids are going through," said Governor Abbott, who said he visited the area on Saturday, pledging to continue efforts to find those missing.

Sementara itu, Kepala Divisi Manajemen Darurat Texas Nim Kidd mengatakan kerusakan itu mengambunuhkan tiga orang di Burnett County, satu orang di Tom Green County, lima orang di Travis County, dan satu orang di Williamson County.

"You'll see the death toll rising today and tomorrow,"enedic Martin, director of Texas's Department of Public Security on Sunday.

Last Saturday officials said more than 850 people had been rescued, including some holding on to trees, after a storm suddenly spilled up to 15 inches (38 cm) of rain across the region, about 85 miles (140 km) northwest of San Antonio.

Kidd said he received an unconfirmed report about an "additional flood" flowing down several tributaries in the Caadalupe River Basin, as rain continued to fall on the ground in the area which was already saturated from Friday's rain.

"We are evacuating several parts of the river now because we are worried about another flood in the area," he said, referring to volunteers from outside the area who were trying to help find victims.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was activated on Sunday and deployed resources to Texas's first respondent after Trump issued a major disaster declaration, the Department of Homeland Security said.

US Coast Guard helicopters and aircraft assisted in search and rescue efforts.

President Trump has previously outlined plans to reduce the role of the federal government in responding to natural disasters, which cause the state to bear more burdens on its own.

President Trump declined when asked on Sunday whether the federal government's budget cuts hampered the disaster response or left important job vacancies at the National Weather Agency under his watch.

"The water situation, that's all, and it's really Biden's arrangement," he said referring to his predecessor from the Democratic Party, Joe Biden. "

But I'm also not going to blame Biden for that. I'm just going to say it's a 100-year disaster," he said.

He refused to answer a question about FEMA, only saying "They're busy working, so we're just going to stop there," said President Trump.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, which oversees FEMA and NOAA, said the "moderate" flood warning issued Thursday by the National Weather Agency had not accurately predicted extreme rainfall, saying President Trump's administration was working to improve the system.