Deadly flood leaves 11 dead, others missing in Texas

At least 11 people have died in flash floods that devastated San Antonio, Texas, as rescue teams continue to search for the missing.

Heavy storms on Wednesday and Thursday caused widespread flooding that pushed vehicles off roads and into creeks.

The San Antonio Fire Department confirmed that four individuals are still unaccounted for.

Officials warned the death toll could rise as search and recovery efforts continue in the coming days.

Over 70 water rescues were reported by Friday afternoon, with four individuals hospitalized with minor injuries.

Three victims have been publicly identified: Martha De La Torre Rangel, Matthew Angel Tufono, and Victor Manuel Macias Castro.

All three were found in vehicles near the Perrin Beitel neighborhood around 5:00 am local time on Thursday as floodwaters overwhelmed the area.

One of the victims, Stevie Richards, was last heard from by his wife, Angel Richards, who spoke to him by phone just before he was swept away.

“It’s hard because I was on the phone when this happened,” she said.

“Then not to have a lot of communication, to see my car—it’s devastating to me. No one can say to me, ‘Hey, this is what’s going on.’”

The fire department has deployed K9 units to assist with the search.

Additional support has been requested from the Texas Urban Search and Rescue force to boost efforts amid continued inclement weather.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg issued a statement of condolence.

“Our hearts are with the families of those we’ve lost to this week’s flash floods,” he posted on X.

“We stand with those still searching for their loved ones.”

Local officials emphasized that the scale of the disaster is unprecedented for recent years.

High water levels in low-lying areas like creeks and drainage ditches caught drivers by surprise, trapping many before they could escape.

Damaged vehicles litter the affected zones. Some were overturned or submerged in floodwaters, showing signs of impact and roof damage.

One appeared to have rolled over multiple times, according to local CBS affiliate KENS 5.

Congressman Joaquin Castro, representing San Antonio, described the tragedy as “heartbreaking” and offered his sympathies.

“My prayers are with the families and loved ones of the victims,” he posted.

“San Antonio always stands together when tragedy strikes.”

The National Weather Service has not ruled out more severe weather in coming days, advising residents to avoid flooded roads and stay informed through emergency channels.

The City of San Antonio is urging residents to report missing persons and damaged infrastructure as search and rescue operations continue across affected districts.

This incident marks one of the deadliest flood events in recent memory for San Antonio, highlighting the urgent need for expanded disaster preparedness and flood response infrastructure in the region.

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