In 45 minutes, the Guadalupe River rose by 8 meters (26 feet). This sudden flooding was triggered by torrential rainfall in the center of the state of Texas, in the southern United States. Nearly 300 millimeters (12 inches) of rain fell per hour – about a third of the region's average annual precipitation – all at once.

The death toll from the floods has now surpassed 80 people and is expected to continue climbing, local authorities announced Monday, as hopes fade of finding at least 10 young girls who are still missing.

"This is a hundred-year catastrophe, and it's just so horrible to watch," said US President Donald Trump, before announcing that he would "probably" visit the area on Friday, July 11.