At least 78 dead and dozens missing in Texas floods as more rain looms

At least 78 people have been confirmed dead in central Texas and another 41 are missing following flash floods over the weekend.

Sixty-eight of the fatalities, including 28 children, occurred in Kerr County, where a riverside girls' camp was deluged. Ten girls and a counsellor from Camp Mystic are still missing.

Authorities have warned the death toll is likely to rise as search efforts continue. Further heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast, which could hamper rescue teams who are already facing venomous snakes as they pick through mud and debris.

Three days after the inundation, the rescue mission is shifting towards a recovery operation, officials said.

Of those recovered in Kerr County, 18 adults and 10 children have yet to be formally identified.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said on Sunday that authorities will "stop at nothing" to ensure that every missing person is found. "Our prayers are with the families, and our mission is far from over."

More storms are expected in the area in the next 24-48 hours in the region.

The destructive, fast-moving waters rose 26 feet (8 meters) on the river in only 45 minutes before daybreak Friday, washing away homes and vehicles.

National Guard Major General Thomas M. Suelzer said there have been a total of 525 rescues, or evacuations, 366 have been by air and 159 by ground since then.

"It was nothing short of horrific to see what those young children went through," said Abbott, who said he toured the area on Saturday and pledged to continue efforts to locate the missing.

Officials also warned that the death toll is likely to rise.

A major focus of the search has been Camp Mystic, a popular summer camp for girls perched on the banks of the Guadalupe River, which suffered significant damage.

Several young campers and the camp's longtime director, Richard "Dick" Eastland, have been identified among the dead.

The two-lane highway that runs alongside the Guadalupe River and ultimately connects Kerrville to Camp Mystic is full of devastation.

Ravaged homes are surrounded by fallen trees and furniture on lawns. Fences are turned over and utility lines are completely down in some areas. Piles of debris are growing as volunteers help clear the rubble.

Complicating search efforts is uncertainty about how many people were visiting the area for the Fourth of July weekend - and how many may have been caught in the floods.

President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration Sunday for Kerr County, activating the Federal Emergency Management Agency to Texas. He also said he would "probably" visit the state on Friday.

"We're working very closely with representatives from Texas, and it's a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible," Trump said on Sunday as he left New Jersey after a weekend at his golf club.

"So we say, God bless all of the people that have gone through so much, and God bless, God bless the state of Texas," Trump said.

On the ground, local residents are stepping up to support relief efforts - collecting supplies, offering shelter, and doing what they can to help neighbours displaced by the storm.

Alma Garcia drove in from San Antonio to deliver home cooked meals to residents and volunteers helping with the clean up effort.

The BBC saw her pull over on the side of the road as she took off a top layer t-shirt she was wearing to give to a resident.

"She was all wet, I told her she's going to need it," Ms Garcia told the BBC. "The destruction is more than we thought it was going to be."

Local resident Perla started collecting clothes and shoes on Friday after she finished her shift at Walmart. She dropped them off at a shelter the next morning.

"We try to help as much as we can," Perla told the BBC. "I've never seen something like this before."

Perla's brothers work for the fire department and are part of the search and rescue effort.

Meanwhile, in Rome, Pope Leo XIV offered special prayers and condolences for the families who have lost loved ones.

"I would like to express sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, in particular their daughters who were in summer camp, in the disaster caused by the flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas in the United States," he said. "We pray for them."

Angélica Casas and Alex Lederman contributed to this report