Timelapse Footage Captures the Catastrophic Texas Flood That Claimed Dozens of Lives
Time-lapse footage has revealed the devastating speed and scale of the flash flood that swept through Kerr County, Texas, leaving at least 51 people dead—15 of them children—and launching urgent efforts to locate missing campers.
As much of the country celebrated the Fourth of July, disaster struck just outside Kerrville, where the Guadalupe River surged without warning, overwhelming the area in minutes.
NBC News confirmed that 51 people have died, and search teams are now working around the clock to locate over 20 missing children. Most of them were among the 750 attendees at Camp Mystic, a girls’ summer camp situated near the river.
Following the flood, the camp was left without electricity, water, or internet access. Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said the missing children are not necessarily lost, noting, “They could be out of communication.”
Tragically, the family of nine-year-old Janie Hunt, a camper at Camp Mystic, told CNN that she died during the flooding.
On July 5, Kerrville Police released a statement reassuring the public that rescue efforts would continue until everyone is found. “Hundreds of first responders are here with resources from throughout the state to help us,” they wrote on Facebook. “Our thoughts remain with those who are unaccounted for and their loved ones. They are our focus and will remain so.”
A time-lapse video shared on social media offered a chilling glimpse of just how quickly the flooding took hold. In the clip, a small group of people is seen walking toward a low point in the road. Within minutes, fast-moving water floods the area, transforming a dry stretch into a deadly torrent.
The video shocked many viewers, with one commenter writing, “That’s becoming WAY too familiar of a scene. What’s going on?” Another added, “That is scary! No wonder people couldn’t evacuate in time. But why were they not warned?”
Timelapse flooding of the Llano River on July 4th pic.twitter.com/59Tnn6NZG7
— Rob Dew (@DewsNewz) July 5, 2025
As rainfall continues across parts of Texas, the National Weather Service has issued fresh flood alerts for vulnerable regions. In response, Governor Greg Abbott extended the state’s emergency declaration and called for federal assistance.
The event has left officials and locals grappling with how the situation escalated so quickly. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly described the disaster as “unprecedented.”
Kerrville city manager Dalton Rice provided insight into the cause. He explained that the area’s river system consists of two tributaries—the north and south forks of the Guadalupe River—which usually merge gradually. But this time, he said, “The rain event sat on top of that and dumped more rain than forecasted.”
“In just minutes,” Rice continued, “the south fork rose from about 7 feet to nearly 29 feet, and all of that water poured into the Guadalupe River, right through the heart of Kerrville.”