Texas floods: Two missing girls found 'clinging to 30ft tree' as death toll rises

In a miraculous moment in the midst of widespread tragedy, two girls who were reported missing following the catastrophic floods in Texas have been found alive, clinging to a tree nearly 30ft high.

Multiple accounts suggest that the children were rescued between Comfort and Homillus Road in Center Point. Eyewitnesses reported that the girls were discovered during the ongoing search operations to locate dozens of children, with four bodies recovered in the vicinity during their rescue.

This reprieve for a few of the distraught families searching for the children comes as Kerr County authorities confirmed a horrific death toll of at least 79 as of Sunday night, with no means to tally the number of missing persons across the county, which bore the brunt of the floods. Among the confirmed fatalities in Kerr County are at least 28 children, including those missing from Camp Mystic, a riverside Christian camp for girls.

13-year-old Elinor Lester, one of the survivors rescued from the site, shared: "The camp was completely destroyed. A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary."

The swift and destructive waters of the Guadalupe River surged 26ft (8m) in just 45 minutes, while many were in bed early on Friday morning, sweeping away homes and vehicles. The threat persisted over the weekend as flash flood warnings remained in place with further rainfall hitting central Texas on Sunday.

Search teams deployed helicopters, boats, and drones to find victims and rescue individuals trapped in trees or cut off by roads obliterated by the floods. In a remarkable 36-hour effort, officials reported that over 850 people were saved, reports the Mirror.

On Sunday, President Donald Trump activated federal aid for Kerr County by signing a major disaster declaration, mobilising the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist Texas. "These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing," Trump announced on social media.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has pledged relentless efforts from authorities and noted that as waters recede, new areas are coming under search operations. He has also designated Sunday as a day of prayer across the state.

"I urge every Texan to join me in prayer this Sunday - for the lives lost, for those still missing, for the recovery of our communities, and for the safety of those on the front lines," he declared.

Meanwhile, in Rome, Pope Leo XIV extended his heartfelt prayers for the disaster's affected during his Sunday blessing.

Addressing the congregation in English, the pontiff said: "I would like to express sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, in particular their daughters who were in summer camp, in the disaster caused by the flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas in the United States. We pray for them."