The UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said the tragedy highlights the growing world challenges around extreme rains, the dissemination of warning and community preparation.
Sudden floods are the most lethal form of floods, responsible for more than 5,000 deaths per year and 85 percent of all deaths related to floods worldwide, according to WMO data, and result in economic losses of more than $ 50 billion annually.
“Unlike the floods of the Slow Start River, sudden floods leave a very limited time for the reaction“The agency said in a press release on Wednesday.
“That makes the short -term prognosis and community preparation essential.“
The one day of a day of the multi -satellite precipitation product IMerg’s IMerg satelling shows strong rains over the center of Texas on July 4, 2025.
Months of rains during hours
During the night of July 3 to 4, the torrential rains, up to 46 centimeters (approximately 18 inches) in a matter of hours, sent a water wall that emerged through the Guadalupe River basin of Kerr County around 4 am, catching many residents and vacationers in low guard.
The United States weather service issued timely alerts, including sudden flood observation with more than 12 hours in advance, improved to a sudden flood emergency approximately three hours before impact.
The warnings were disseminated by weather radio, emergency management systems and television and radio stations, but many people, including hundreds of children in summer camps, were not reached on time.
The waters of the floods increased dramatically when the Guadalupe River rose almost 8 meters (approximately 26 feet) in approximately 45 minutes.
Among the most affected were the summer camp for Girls, Camp Mystic, along the river, where at least 27 campers and counselors died, according to media reports. Texas state authorities report that more than 160 people are still missing.
The disaster has caused one of the greatest search and rescue efforts in the history of the State.
More frequent and serious floods
Sudden floods are not new, but their frequency and intensity are increasing in many regions due to rapid urbanization, land use change and a heating climate.
“A warmer atmosphere contains more moisture and this means that extreme rain events are becoming more frequent“Wmo said.
Texas disaster joins a series of recent catastrophic floods. In 2022, sudden floods in Pakistan killed more than 1,700 people and displaced millions. In 2024, floods in Europe, Middle East and Africa saw $ 36 billion in economic damage.
And just this week, a sudden flood along the Nepali-China border swept the main bridge that unites the two countries.
In September 2022, Pakistan was beaten by devastating floods that left great stripes of the country under water.
Support countries
To help countries predict such dangers, the OMM operates the Flash flood guidance system, a real -time prognosis platform used in more than 70 countries. Integrate data models, radar and climate of satellite data to detect local threats to sudden floods and support training programs to develop national capacity.
Beyond technology, the agency plays a call role through the construction of national capacity, expert certification and facilitating real -time coordination between prognosis agencies and disaster managers.