A little over a week after devastating flooding in the US state of Texas, the death toll from the disaster has risen to at least 129, dw.com reports.
166 people remain missing. In Kerr County alone, the hardest-hit by the disaster, authorities reported 103 deaths, including 36 children.
Meanwhile, the weather service is warning of the risk of further heavy rains that could cause flooding until the evening of July 13 (local time).
Criticism of local authorities regarding the scale of the disaster in Texas is growing. The US federal government has also been criticized by scientists and emergency management agencies for cutting funding and staffing for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which is responsible for weather forecasting and disaster preparedness in the United States.
However, US President Donald Trump, who visited the disaster area on July 11, has denied any such accusations against his administration.
The flooding in Texas was caused by torrential rains, with rainfall reaching 300 liters per square meter, which is a third of the average annual rainfall in Kerr County. According to AFP, on the night of July 4, the water level in the Guadalupe River rose by 8 meters in 45 minutes. At that time, many people were vacationing near the river for the Independence Day holiday and the following weekend.