The death toll from the devastating floods in the state of Texas has reached 100, according to new data announced today by local authorities, quoted by Agence France-Presse and BTA.
84 people, including 28 children, have died in the hardest-hit Kerr County alone.
“Texas is in mourning. The pain, the shock of what has happened in the last few days, has broken the heart of our state,” said Texas Senator Ted Cruz at a press conference.
Among the victims are 27 children and their educators from the Christian holiday camp for girls “Camp Mystic“ on the banks of the Guadalupe River, which housed about 750 people, its leaders announced.
US President Donald Trump plans to visit the site on Friday, the White House confirmed, rejecting criticism that budget cuts to the National Weather Service have damaged the reliability of forecasts and warnings.
“To hold President Trump responsible for these floods is a disgusting lie that makes no sense at this time of national mourning“, White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt told reporters today.
She assured that the US National Weather Service - several of whose stations in Texas were not working during the floods, according to revelations by the newspaper. “The New York Times” has issued “timely and accurate forecasts and warnings”.