() Camp Mystic confirmed Monday it was “grieving the loss of 27 campers and counselors” following deadly floods in central Texas over the Fourth of July weekend.
The camp, located on the Guadalupe River near Hunt, Texas, was hosting nearly 750 girls and young women when heavy rainfall caused the river to overflow.
Most of the Christian camp’s attendees were able to escape to safety, but others had been sleeping on lower ground at the time of the flash flood.
“We have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls,” the camp said. At one point, the camp reported 10 people were missing, though it was unclear Monday if that number had changed.
The family of camper Lila Bonner said Saturday that she had died.
“We ache with all who loved her and are praying endlessly for others to be spared from this tragic loss,” family members said in a prepared statement.
The mayor of Mountain Brook, Ala., released a statement expressing grief at the loss of Sarah Marsh, an 8-year-old camper who attended Cherokee Bend Elementary.
“This is an unimaginable loss for her family, her school, and our entire community,” Mayor Stewart Welch said.
‘s Steph Whiteside, Michael Ramsey, Sean Noone and Tom Palmer contributed to this report.
