Just 30 minutes ago, authorities in Texas confirmed the heartbreaking discovery that one of the 20 girls reported missing during last week’s catastrophic floods has been found dead. The young girl’s body was located near the banks of the Colorado River, approximately 15 miles from the summer camp where she was last seen.

This tragedy has shaken not only the local community but the entire nation, as rescue teams continue to search for the remaining missing children. The flood, triggered by days of relentless rain and the sudden overflow of multiple rivers across Central Texas, has become one of the worst natural disasters in the state’s recent history.

The young girl, whose identity is being withheld pending family notification, was only 11 years old. She had been attending an all-girls summer adventure program when the floodwaters surged through the area in the early morning hours. According to investigators, the camp was struck with little warning. Witnesses described the terrifying moment when water breached the cabins and swept several children and staff members away.

Her family, who had held onto hope for her safe return, was devastated by the confirmation. A statement from her uncle reads:

“She was the light of our lives. We believed she’d come back to us. Now, we’re just praying the other girls are found alive.”

Over 400 volunteers, including state troopers, fire crews, national guardsmen, and trained K9 search units, have been deployed in a round-the-clock effort to locate the rest of the missing girls. Helicopters have scanned hundreds of acres, drones have flown over flooded terrain, and sonar teams have been searching submerged areas where currents remain dangerously strong.

The flood has already claimed at least 51 lives, and emergency shelters across the state are at full capacity with displaced families. Governor Gregory Abbott has issued a statewide disaster declaration and has called on the federal government for immediate assistance. FEMA teams have been dispatched to assess damage, while mental health counselors have been sent to aid survivors, especially the children.

Yesterday, a vigil was held in Austin, where hundreds gathered with candles and prayers for the missing girls and their families. Messages of solidarity have poured in from across the country. Celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Patrick Mahomes, and Elon Musk have publicly expressed their condolences, with several making large donations to the search and rescue efforts.

As of this morning, 19 girls are still unaccounted for. Authorities warn that the next 48 hours are critical, with rain expected to return midweek. “We are doing everything in our power,” said Sheriff Marcus Delaney in a tearful press conference. “But with every hour that passes, the risk grows. We ask everyone to keep these families in your prayers.”

The camp, which has operated for over 40 years without incident, has suspended all future sessions. A formal investigation has also been launched into the emergency protocols that were—or weren’t—in place the night of the flood. Parents are now demanding answers about why they were not warned earlier, as weather alerts were issued nearly six hours before the worst of the storm hit.

While the nation mourns the loss of a bright, young life, rescue teams remain on the ground, fighting against time and nature to bring the others home.