The death toll from the catastrophic floods that swept through Texas climbed to at least 78 on Sunday evening, with 28 of the victims being children.

The search remains ongoing for several girls who went missing from a summer camp, while renewed flooding fears prompted the evacuation of some emergency responders.

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha reported that his jurisdiction, located in Texas Hill Country and hardest hit by the floods, recorded 68 fatalities, including 28 children.

Governor Greg Abbott confirmed an additional 10 deaths across other counties and said 41 individuals were still unaccounted for.

President Donald Trump extended condolences to affected families and said he intends to visit the area on Friday. He also noted that his administration had been coordinating closely with Governor Abbott.

“It’s a terrible tragedy. Just heartbreaking,” Trump told reporters in New Jersey. “We send prayers to everyone impacted and to the entire state of Texas.”

One of the most severely affected locations was Camp Mystic, a historic Christian summer camp for girls. Sheriff Leitha said 10 campers and one counselor remained missing after floodwaters engulfed the site.

Governor Abbott, who toured the area over the weekend, described the scene as devastating. “What those young girls endured was unimaginable,” he said, vowing continued support in the search and recovery efforts.

The deadly flooding began Friday when the Guadalupe River burst its banks following intense rainfall on Independence Day. Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd said heavy downpours overwhelmed communities in central Texas, triggering deadly flash floods and forcing hundreds to seek rescue.

Kidd said three deaths occurred in Burnet County, one in Tom Green, five in Travis, and one in Williamson County. Officials expect the death toll to rise as search operations continue.

According to authorities, more than 850 individuals were rescued, some plucked from trees where they had taken refuge from the rising water. The region, located roughly 85 miles northwest of San Antonio, saw rainfall levels reach up to 15 inches (38 cm) in a matter of hours.

As of Sunday, emergency crews were bracing for further disaster, with unconfirmed reports of another surge of water moving through the Guadalupe River basin. Kidd said parts of the river were being cleared to allow for further evacuations as the area remained on high alert.

Following the crisis, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was activated. Homeland Security officials said Trump had declared a major disaster, enabling the deployment of federal aid and resources. The U.S. Coast Guard also joined rescue efforts with helicopters and aircraft.

The flooding has reignited concerns about federal disaster readiness. Critics questioned whether staffing cuts at the National Weather Service (NWS) and its parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), had hindered early warnings.

Former NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad warned that widespread job cuts under the Trump administration had left weather offices severely understaffed, potentially compromising forecast accuracy. While he couldn’t confirm a direct link to the lack of timely flood warnings, Spinrad cautioned that such reductions weaken the system’s overall capability.

Trump, however, dismissed suggestions that federal cuts played a role. “This is a once-in-a-century event,” he said. “And no, I wouldn’t blame Biden either. This disaster stands on its own.”

He declined to elaborate on FEMA’s role, saying, “They’re working hard we’ll let them continue.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees both FEMA and NOAA, defended the agencies’ response. She acknowledged the NWS had issued only a “moderate” flood warning last Thursday, which underestimated the rainfall’s severity. She said the administration is now working to modernize the system.

Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro (D) told CNN that the situation underscores the danger of inadequate staffing. “With flash flooding, timely and accurate analysis is critical. Shortages in personnel can turn weather events into tragedies,” he said.

At Camp Mystic, counselor Katharine Somerville recalled the fear among her 13-year-old campers when floodwaters reached even the highest cabins on the camp’s grounds. “We never imagined this kind of destruction,” she told Fox News, describing how cabins lost power and were filled with water.

Somerville said military trucks were dispatched to evacuate campers to safety, and none in her group were harmed.

The flooding struck with alarming speed early Friday, as heavier-than-expected rain caused the Guadalupe River to surge up to 29 feet (9 meters). A day later, the camp where 700 girls were staying was unrecognizable mud-streaked walls, ruined belongings, and collapsed structures testified to the storm’s fury.

One cabin had mud lines six feet (1.8 meters) high, with broken windows and a wall torn away. Beds, mattresses, and personal items lay scattered and caked in sludge, bearing witness to a summer turned tragic.