Photos Show Deadly Texas Floods and Rescue Efforts

At least 27 people have died after heavy rainfall caused flash flooding in parts of central Texas on Friday, authorities have said.

More than 20 children are also missing from Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ camp along the Guadalupe River, which Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said had risen 26 feet in 45 minutes as torrential rain battered the region.

The Heart O’ the Hills, another girls’ camp based along the river, said its director, Jane Ragsdale, had died in the floods.

“We have received word that Jane Ragsdale did not make it,” it said in a statement posted to its website. “We are mourning the loss of a woman who influenced countless lives and was the definition of strong and powerful.”

It added that the camp was not in session as the flooding hit, and that “most of those who were on camp at the time have been accounted for and are on high ground.”

The National Weather Service said the Guadalupe River at Hunt hit its second-highest height on record on Friday.

The service said Saturday morning that rises were also beginning to occur on Lake Travis, and warned of “dangerous and life-threatening flooding and heavy rain” over Burnet, western Williamson, and northwestern Travis counties.

Here are some images showing the impact of the flooding and ongoing search and rescue efforts.