Timelapse footage shows the true devastation of the Texas flash flood, which has resulted in at least 51 deaths and frantic search parties for missing girls.
As America enjoyed their July 4 celebrations across the nation, those outside of Kerrville were hit by deadly flooding.
The flash flood swept through Kerr County in Texas, as the Guadalupe River rose to breaking points within minutes.
At least 51 people – including 15 children – have been confirmed to have died, the NBC News reports.
Rescue teams are currently working around the clock to find up to more than 20 children, who were among the 750 girls attending the Camp Mystic, a summer camp outside of Kerrville that was swept up in the water.
After the floods, the camp has been left without power, water or WiFi, with Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick explaining that the missing children are not necessarily ‘lost’, adding: “They could be out of communication.”
Texas has been hit with a devastating flash flood, leaving at least 51 dead (Eric Vryn/Getty Images)
As many parents desperately appeal for the whereabouts of their daughters, sadly, the mother of Camp Mystic member Janie Hunt, nine, confirmed to CNN that her daughter has died because of the floods.
On July 5, the Kerrville Police Department said in an update that rescue teams will ‘continue until we find all our citizens’.
“Hundreds of first responders are here with resources from throughout the state to help us,” they added on Facebook. “Our thoughts remain with those who are unaccounted for and their loved ones. They are our focus and will remain so.”
As the world watches on, many may be unable to understand just how fast the floods came through the area.
But a timelapse video posted on Twitter shows the full magnitude of the deadly waters, which took approximately seven minutes to turn its clear path into a swamp.
Rescue efforts for potential survivors – including children part of a summer camp – are continuing (Eric Vryn/Getty Images)
The video shows a group of people walking towards a dip in the road when suddenly, the floods storm past, turning the once clear path into a deadly flash flood.
In the comments, many were shocked, and grieving.
One person asked: “Yeah that’s becoming WAY too familiar of a scene. What’s going on?” as another said: “That is scary! No wonder people couldn’t evacuate in time. But, why were they not warned?”
Someone else wrote: “Who could’ve predicted this? NOAA alerts notwithstanding… Horrifying.”
As of right now, rainfall continues to make its way through Lone Star State, and the National Weather Service (NWS) issued new flood warnings for those living and working within the area.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed an extended emergency declaration and also requested support from the federal government with the floods.
The tragedy has left many wondering how such a thing could have happened so suddenly, with Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly saying a disaster of such magnitude was unforeseen.
Dalton Rice, city manager for Kerrville, has explained the reason why it happened, telling press: “When you look at the headwaters of the Guadalupe… there’s a north and a south fork.
“Since 1987, under normal conditions, if you can call it that, you’ll hit water in one of those areas, and those two forks will converge into the Guadalupe, which comes through the city of Kerrville.”
Rice continued: “This rain event sat on top of that and dumped more rain than what was forecasted on both of those forks.
“When we got the report, it was about 7 feet or so on the south fork, and within a matter of minutes it was up to 29 feet, and all of that converged at Guadalupe.”
