Search teams have been deploying helicopters, boats, and drones to locate victims of the flash floods that have swept through central Texas since the July Fourth weekend began. Tragically, at least 70 lives have been lost, with many others still unaccounted for, including 11 girls from a summer camp.

The heart of this disaster is in the picturesque Texas Hill Country, where volunteers and some of the families of the missing individuals have been combing the riverbanks, even though they’ve been advised not to. Authorities in areas near Austin, the state capital, have also found flood victims.

Rescue teams are navigating the difficult landscapes while continuing their urgent search for the missing. Images reveal the widespread devastation experienced by central Texas.

President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration Sunday for Kerr County, activating the Federal Emergency Management Agency to Texas. “These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing,” Trump posted on social media.

The destructive, fast-moving waters rose 26 feet on the river in only 45 minutes before daybreak Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger was not over as flash flood watches remained in effect and more rain fell in central Texas on Sunday.

Gov. Greg Abbott vowed that authorities will work around the clock and said new areas were being searched as the water receded. He declared Sunday a day of prayer for the state.

“I urge every Texan to join me in prayer this Sunday — for the lives lost, for those still missing, for the recovery of our communities, and for the safety of those on the front lines,” he said in a statement.