The death toll from flash flooding in central Texas has risen to at least 78, officials said on Sunday, with more bad weather forecast.
Larry Leitha, sheriff of Kerr County in Texas Hill Country, said 68 people, including 28 children, had died in his county, which has been hit hard by the flooding. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said at a press conference on Sunday afternoon that 10 died elsewhere in Texas and confirmed 41 were missing.
A search is continuing for 11 girls and a counsellor who were staying at a camp near the Guadalupe River, which rose to about eight metres during the storms, breaking its banks.
The US National Weather Service declared a flash flood emergency for parts of Kerr County, about 100km north-west of San Antonio, after thunderstorms dumped up to 38cm of rain on the area over the holiday weekend.
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he had signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County. He said he would probably visit the area on Friday.
"It's a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible. So we say, God bless all of the people that have gone through so much, and God bless, God bless the state of Texas," he told reporters as he left New Jersey.
"These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing," he added in a post on Truth Social. "The Trump administration continues to work closely with state and local leaders."
Mr Trump has indicated in the past that his administration plans to scale back the federal government's role in responding to natural disasters, leaving states to shoulder more of the burden.
Officials said more than 850 people had been rescued, including some clinging to trees.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said a "moderate" flood watch issued on Thursday by the National Weather Service had not accurately predicted the extreme rain and said the Trump administration was working to upgrade the system.
Some experts have questioned whether cuts to the federal workforce by the administration, including to the agency that oversees the National Weather Service, led to a failure by officials to accurately predict the severity of the floods and issue appropriate warnings.
More rain was expected in the area. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for Kerr County on Sunday evening.
The UAE sent its condolences and expressed solidarity with the US after the floods. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its sympathy to the families of the victims, as well as to the people and government of the US.
