Devastating flash floods in the Texas hills have already claimed the lives of 109 people, and 161 are missing in the devastated Kerr County area alone, Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott said, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
At a press conference, Abbott told reporters that rescue workers would continue to work "until every missing person is found."
The number of missing is much higher than initially announced, but according to Abbott, this is because people have been calling in to report missing people in recent days. Search teams also have no idea who has been in the popular vacation area since Friday morning, when the floods suddenly hit during the long holiday weekend, surprising many.
Many families were not staying in registered hotels, but were camping independently along the riverbanks. Authorities have urged the public to report any missing people.
U.S. President Donald Trump, along with his wife and first lady Melania, will visit the flood-hit Texas area on Friday, said Abbott, a hardline Republican and Trump ally.