At least five girls were killed and several missing after devastating flash floods swept through a Texas summer camp on the Fourth of July.
Eleven girls are missing from Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, and five of their fellow campers have died after the rushing waters destroyed the all-girls private Christian summer camp.
The total death toll has risen to 69, including 21 children, after the Guadalupe River flooded and surged by up to 30 feet above its usual water level on Friday.
Beloved director of Camp Mystic, Richard ‘Dick’ Eastland, 70, died while trying to save girls as a month’s worth of rain dropped in a matter of minutes.
One week before the tragedy, the camp shared videos on social media of the campers happily prancing around on stage during their first term chorus and dance production.
The youngest campers slept on low-laying ‘flats’ inside the camp’s cabins, whereas older girls slept in cabins on higher ground, according to the NYT.
Most of the missing girls are from the younger age bracket, who were sleeping just yards away from the banks of the Guadalupe River.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said that some 750 girls had been staying at the camp when the floodwaters hit.
Here is what we know about all of the girls who died in the flood.
Renee Smajstrla, 8
Camp Mystic attendee Renee Smajstrla (picture), 8, was killed in the flood, according to her uncle
The family of eight-year-old Renee Smajstrla has confirmed that she was among those who lost her life during the tragic floods.
Her uncle, Shawn Salta, shared on Facebook: ‘We are thankful she was with her friends and having the time of her life, as evidenced by this picture from yesterday.
‘She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic.’
Janie Hunt, 9
Dallas nine-year-old Janie Hunt (pictured) died in the flooding at Camp Mystic
The mother of Dallas girl Janie Hunt confirmed to local media her daughter was one of the campers killed in the flood.
‘We are just devastated,’ she told NBC 5.
Sarah Marsh, 8
Sarah Marsh (pictured), 8, came from Alabama to attend Camp Mystic before she was swept away and killed
Alabama native Sarah Marsh died after the waters swept through Camp Mystic, according to her family.
‘Thank you for the outpouring of love and sympathy! We will always feel blessed to have had this beautiful spunky ray of light in our lives. She will live on in our hearts forever! We love you so much sweet Sarah,’ her grandmother said, according to The Kerrville Daily Times.
Lila Bonner, 9
Nine-year-old Lila Bonner (right), was attending Camp Mystic with her best friend Eloise Peck (left)
The family of Lila Bonner, who was sharing a cabin at the camp with her best friend Eloise Peck, confirmed her passing to NBC News.
‘In the midst of our unimaginable grief, we ask for privacy and are unable to confirm any details at this time,’ the family said.
‘We ache with all who loved her and are praying endlessly for others to be spared from this tragic loss.’
Eloise Peck, 8
Eloise Peck (right) was sharing a cabin with Lila Bonner (left) when they were killed in the flooding
Dallas girl Eloise Peck, who recently finished second grade at Bradfield Elementary with her best friend Lili, also died in the flood.
‘Eloise was literally friends with everyone. She loved spaghetti but not more than she loved dogs and animals,’ her mother, Missy Peck, told FOX 4.
‘She passed away with her cabinmate and best friend Lila Bonner who also died. Eloise had a family who loved her fiercely for the 8 years she was with us. Especially her Mommy.’
Multiple people who lost their lives in the biblical flooding were not attending Camp Mystic.
The death toll currently stands at 67 – including 38 adults.
Texas’s Division of Emergency Management predicted the number of dead as a result of catastrophic flooding in Kerrville would top 100, sources told Daily Mail.
People have been desperately posting about their missing friends and relatives in a bid to help the search effort to find them, following the flooding.
Among the children, who were not attending the camp but tragically lost their lives, are two other young sisters who were visiting their grandparents when the flood rushed through their cabin.
A Dream Turned Nightmare
What was meant to be a joyful summer retreat turned into unspeakable tragedy when torrential rains caused the nearby Guadalupe River to overflow with little warning. Camp Mystic, known for its rich tradition and stunning riverside views, became a scene of chaos and heartbreak as floodwaters engulfed cabins and swept away dozens in the night.
Rescue crews worked around the clock, but on Monday morning, officials confirmed what many feared: all 24 girls at the camp were found deceased.
“This is the darkest day in the history of our community,” said Kendall County Sheriff Troy Mendez. “We’ve lost daughters, sisters, best friends — we’ve lost the light.”
Blake Shelton Steps Up
In the wake of the tragedy, country music star Blake Shelton has stepped forward in a powerful way. Known for his down-to-earth persona and deep Texas roots, Shelton donated $100,000 to the families of the victims and local rescue efforts — but he didn’t stop there.
He also released a surprise acoustic song titled “River of Angels”, which he wrote just hours after hearing the news. The haunting ballad, filled with lines like “You danced where the water runs, now Heaven holds your song”, is already going viral for its emotional resonance.
“I didn’t know these girls, but I felt like I did,” Shelton said in a teary video posted to his social media. “I hope this song brings even a tiny bit of peace.”
Nation in Mourning
Vigils are being held across Texas, with thousands showing up to light candles and leave notes for the families. Meanwhile, President Biden has issued a statement calling the event a “national tragedy” and promising federal aid.
As rescue teams continue their search for the missing, the entire country watches with heavy hearts.
This isn’t just a Texas story anymore. It’s a human one.
#PrayForCampMystic #RiverOfAngels #TexasStrong
