A devastating flash flood has claimed at least four lives in San Antonio, Texas, as biblical torrents swept through the city on Thursday morning. The deadly deluge forced residents to scramble up trees to escape rapidly rising waters.
According to Daily Mail, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus confirmed that two men and two women have died, while several others remain missing after the catastrophic flooding event. Authorities discovered 13 vehicles either floating or completely submerged in floodwaters.
The deaths occurred in the northeastern section of San Antonio, where slow-moving thunderstorms dumped more than seven inches of rain in some areas. San Antonio Fire Department spokesman Woody Woodward reported that firefighters responded to 65 rescue calls since midnight as the raging waters continued to threaten lives.
Desperate rescues amid raging waters
Emergency responders found multiple people who had climbed trees to escape the rapidly rising waters. The brown torrent transformed roadways into deadly rivers within hours, catching many motorists by surprise during the early morning deluge.
"It's hard to determine at this point exactly how they got swept away," explained Woodward. "But it is an area where there was high water that was moving rapidly, and there were several people that were caught in that water that had climbed up into trees, and we did do a couple of rescues out of trees and some rescues out of vehicles."
Police Chief McManus stated that the submerged vehicles were concentrated around Beitel Creek near a highway. The low water crossings proved particularly dangerous as the combination of water depth and current speed created deadly conditions for drivers who attempted to navigate through them.
Weather conditions created perfect storm
The catastrophic flooding resulted from a weather system that moved slowly through central Texas, allowing thunderstorms to dump excessive rainfall on already saturated ground. By midmorning, floodwaters had begun receding in some areas.
Eric Platt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, noted that while the rain was diminishing in intensity, any additional precipitation would worsen flooding conditions due to the saturated ground. The weather service issued flash flood warnings covering 23 counties in Central Texas, effective until 7 p.m. Thursday.
The same storm system also spawned a tornado in nearby Hays County, where downed trees and scattered debris created additional hazards. The combination of flooding and tornado activity stretched emergency resources across multiple counties as first responders worked to reach those in danger.
Infrastructure impacts and warnings
Thousands of residents lost electrical service as the floodwaters damaged power infrastructure throughout San Antonio. Dozens of roads were closed due to flooding, hampering rescue efforts and emergency response.
McManus emphasized the deceptive nature of flood-prone areas, warning residents about the dangers of attempting to cross flooded roadways. "These are low water crossings that the depth of the water and the speed at which it's traveling are very, very hard to gauge," he cautioned. "And if you venture into it when the water is deep, and the water's moving real fast, you're taking your life into your own hands."
The flash flood warnings issued by the National Weather Service highlighted the continuing danger throughout Thursday. Officials urged residents to avoid travel and to never attempt driving through flooded areas, reminding the public that it takes only a few inches of fast-moving water to sweep away a vehicle.
Ongoing search efforts continue
Emergency crews continue combing through the aftermath of the devastating floods that struck San Antonio on Thursday morning. With four confirmed deaths and several people still unaccounted for, rescuers are focusing on areas where vehicles were discovered submerged.
The San Antonio Fire Department has deployed specialized water rescue teams to search through the debris and wreckage left behind by the flash flooding. As water levels gradually recede, authorities anticipate they may discover additional vehicles that were swept away by the powerful currents.
Weather forecasters remain concerned about the possibility of additional rainfall compounding the existing flooding situation. Residents throughout central Texas have been advised to remain vigilant as emergency services continue their search and recovery operations in what officials are describing as one of the most severe flooding events to hit the region in recent years.
