Texas floods death toll rises to 27 as rescuers search for missing children

Rescuers in the US state of Texas are scrambling to locate more than two dozen children still missing from a Christian summer camp after a powerful storm caused flash floods that authorities say have killed at least 27 people.

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha told reporters on Saturday that the death toll included nine children.

Leitha said around 800 people had been evacuated from the region, about 137km (85 miles) northwest of San Antonio, as flood waters receded on Saturday morning.

Torrential downpour on Friday caused the fast-flowing Guadalupe River to rise nearly nine metres (29 feet) near the Camp Mystic summer camp, where around 750 children were staying.

Twenty-seven attendees were still unaccounted for, according to Dalton Rice, city manager of the nearby town of Kerrville in Kerr County.

The Heart O’ The Hills summer camp, located about 1. 6km (1 mile) from Camp Mystic, confirmed on Saturday that its director, Jane Ragsdale, was among the dead.

While the National Weather Service (NWS) said the flash-flood emergency had largely ended for Kerr County – the epicentre of the flooding – it warned of more heavy rain to come, maintaining its flood watch until 7pm local time (00:00 GMT on Sunday).

Rice said that more than 1,000 rescuers were on the ground to help with search-and-rescue efforts. Helicopters and drones were being used, with some people being plucked from trees. US Coast Guard helicopters had flown in to assist.

“They are looking in every possible location,” said Rice, adding that search crews were facing harsh conditions while scouring waterlogged rivers, culverts and rocks.

People are reunited at a reunification centre in the town of Ingram after flash flooding hit Texas, on July 4, 2025 [Eric Gay/AP Photo]

Reporting from Washington, DC, Al Jazeera’s Heidi Zhou-Castro said that rescue workers had promised to “not give up until the very last person is found – either alive or their body is recovered”.

“That might be a tall order given just how catastrophic these floods were. We’re talking about a region that is dotted with hills and with canyons,” she said.

She added that children in the camps had been particularly vulnerable to the floodwaters, “which rose by eight metres [26 feet] in less than an hour, overnight as they slept”.

Authorities under scutiny

The flooding in the middle of the night on the Fourth of July holiday weekend caught many residents, campers and officials by surprise.

Authorities have come under increasing scrutiny over whether they issued proper warnings and whether enough preparations were made.

State emergency management officials had warned as late as Thursday that west and central Texas faced heavy rains and flash flood threats “over the next couple days”, citing NWS forecasts ahead of the holiday weekend.

The weather forecasts, however, “did not predict the amount of rain that we saw”, W Nim Kidd, director of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, said during a news conference on Friday night.

“A lot of questions are being asked about why there weren’t earlier evacuations,” said Al Jazeera’s Zhou-Castro. “They knew there might be rain, they just didn’t know where it would hit, and when it did, it indeed was catastrophic. ”

On Saturday morning, US President Donald Trump said the federal government was working with state and local officials to respond to the flooding.

“Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding that Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem would soon be on the ground.

The weekend disaster echoes a catastrophic flood almost 40 years ago along the Guadalupe River, where a bus and a van leaving a church camp encountered floodwaters and 10 teenagers drowned trying to escape, according to a NWS summary of the 1987 storm.

Flash floods along Guadalupe River in San Angelo, Texas
A drone view shows flooded houses following torrential rains that unleashed flash floods along the Guadalupe River in San Angelo, Texas, June 4, 2025 [Patrick Keely via Reuters]

Oasis fans slam pubs outside Oasis gig venue as they deem price increase ‘horrific’

Oasis fans have been enjoying drinks in Cardiff’s many pubs as they prepared to watch Liam and Noel Gallagher take to the stage

Oasis fans slam pubs outside Oasis gig venue as they deem price increase ‘horrific’(Image: PA)

Oasis fans were less than impressed with the prices of pints in and around Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. Brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher finally made up after feuding for 16 years, with the two swiftly announcing a huge reunion tour in a shock announcement made last summer.

And on Friday night (July 4), over 70,000 fans descended upon the Welsh capital city for Oasis’ very first gig of their tour as they chanted and cheered for the brothers. Before heading into the venue, which was charging £8. 20 for a pint, many fans enjoyed a few pre-drinks at the pubs surrounding the stadium.

READ MORE: Oasis have released new tickets for UK tour – how to buy yours if you missed out

Oasis fans
Thousands of fans were in Cardiff for last night’s concert(Image: Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Some fans complained of the price increase at nearby Wetherspoons pubs, where a few drinks were £2 more expensive. The pub chain confirmed to The Sun they raised the prices at three of its Cardiff city centre pubs.

“We can confirm that prices were increased in three of our Cardiff city centre pubs during the Oasis concert,” they said. “The police categorised it as an event day, which meant the pubs were required to have additional door supervisors.

“In addition the pubs employed more staff than usual for the concert. Wetherspoon continues to offer value for money prices.”

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Liam Gallagher on stage at Oasis' comeback show in Cardiff on July 4th
But they fumed over the price of pints(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

One concert-goer even took a picture of the drinks menu and shared it with others on social media, writing: “Prices at Cardiff City Centre Wetherspoons today for Oasis opening night – horrific, shocking, butters. “

Another fan complained about the price of drinks at the Cardiff Marriott, writing: “Nice of @CardiffMarriott to introduce dynamic pint pricing for the gig today, 18% increase on a pint of beer #Oasis #Cardiff.”

Once fans are inside the stadium, support act Cast will play first at 6pm following by Richard Ashcroft at 7pm and Oasis taking to the stage at 8. 15pm.

Oasis fans have been forecasted to buy 8,667,600 pints during the tour, with 2,219,458 of those pints getting chucked in the air in celebration.

The Oasis reunion was initially so secret that Liam and Noel told just eight people, with friends and family not in the loop.

That all changed with the announcement of the tour in August last year. The pair posed for several photos together confirming the band’s long-awaited reunion on Tuesday, saying: “The great wait is over. ” Ticket sales then led to chaos as millions of fans around the world scrambled to get them.

The band will finally take to the stage tonight, having split in August 2009. In a video to promote the comeback last year, Liam was heard saying: “When we both come together, you have greatness. “

Noel then says: “I know my brother better than anybody else. This is it, this is happening. “

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Why were Mel B and Rory McPhee able to have their wedding at St Paul’s Cathedral?

Spice Girl Mel B and new husband Rory McPhee tied the knot in style earlier today, with the happy couple exchanging vows at St Paul’s Cathedral

St Paul’s Cathedral strict eligibility rules for couples as Mel B ties the knot(Image: TIM ANDERSON)

Mel B has married for the third time. The Spice Girls star – who was previously married to Jimmy Gulzar between 1998 and 2000 and Stephen Belafonte from 2007 to 2016 – tied the knot with Rory McPhee at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London on Saturday.

Mel, 50, wore a traditional white gown, adorned with pearls for the wedding, while her new husband Rory, 37, wore a traditional Scottish tartan kilt. The happy couple posed for pictures on the steps of the historic venue and shared a kiss.

The happy couple tied the knot at St Paul’s Cathedral – usually a very exclusive venue when it comes to weddings. Around 30 couples marry inside the iconic building but as St Paul’s is not a parish church, there are conditions on who can be married there.

St Paul's Cathedral, London, ahead of the marriage of Spice Girl Melanie Brown, Mel B,
It’s a very exclusive wedding venue (Image: PA)

On the official website, St Paul’s Catherdral states: “We are able to marry members of: the Order of the British Empire, and their children, the Order of St Michael and St George, and their children, the Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor, and their children, and the Cathedral Community (staff and volunteers, including Cathedral School, subject to length of service), and their children. “

Mel was given permission to wed in because she was awarded an MBE in 2022 for her services to charitable causes and vulnerable women. Following the ceremony inside St Paul’s, a reception at The Shard was booked for after the ceremony.

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Emma Bunton was the only Spice Girl in attendance, accompanied by husband Jade Jones and their son Beau, 17. Other celebrities included Mel’s sister Danielle Brown, Daisy Lowe, Katherine Ryan and Gaby Roslin.

There was no sign of Victoria Beckham, Geri Halliwell and Melanie Chisholm. However, Victoria shared her well wishes via social media, posting on her Instagram Stories.

She wrote: “Congratulations @officialmelb and @rorymcphee on your special day! I couldn’t be more excited for you both and wish you a lifetime of happiness! Kisses xx. ”

She also shared a photo of herself and Mel B at an event together and captioned it, “Sending you love @officialmelb. @rorymcphee is a very lucky man! ”

Meanwhile, Mel’s children Phoenix Chi, Madison and Angel Iris all attended the ceremony.

Mel and Rory have known each other for years but didn’t start dating until 2018 and they got engaged four years later. Rory is a “family friend” of Mel’s cousin, Christian Cooke, with the pair having gone to school together.

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Speaking about the proposal, Rory previously told HELLO! Magazine: “I was so nervous, my lips were trembling. I’d spent ages writing down all these things I wanted to say, but when it came to it, I just babbled. “

Mel responded: “Oh no, it was lovely, what you said. He told me he loved me, that I was his best friend and that he wanted to be with me for the rest of our lives. “

Tearful champion Krejcikova knocked out of Wimbledon

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Barbora Krejcikova’s Wimbledon title defence came to a tearful end as physical struggles hampered her in a three-set defeat by American 10th seed Emma Navarro in the third round.

The Czech, who had come into the tournament after an injury scare, had seemed to be in control of the match but became increasingly distressed after being taken to a third set in a 2-6 6-3 6-4 defeat.

She bent over several times behind the baseline at the end of points and had the trainer on midway through the third set to have her blood pressure taken.

When she was one game from defeat, the 29-year-old leaned against the screen at the back of the court and cried.

Wiping away tears as she held serve to stay in the match, the end came in the following game when she netted as 24-year-old Navarro booked a fourth-round meeting with 18-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva, who is the seventh seed.

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Krejcikova was taken to three sets in her first two matches at the All England Club, coming into the match against Navarro having spent almost twice as long on the court as her opponent.

But she had started brightly, using her trademark shot variety to move Navarro around the court in a dominant first set.

She went a break up early in the second but allowed Navarro to get a foothold back in the match with a loose service game – featuring two double faults and a hugely overcooked forehand.

When she lost the second set, she swiftly left the court under a towel while a pumped Navarro stayed on her feet near the scoreboard for much of the break, seemingly keen to keep up the momentum.

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Vernon Kay dubs first Oasis show ‘gig of a lifetime’ as he reveals major hope for the tour

EXCLUSIVE: Radio 2 DJ Vernon Kay was left in no doubt that the Oasis Cardiff comeback show was epic, with the broadcaster revealing how the big reunion tour could lift the country’s mood

Vernon is here with wife Tess Daly at Bafta, but he took his daughter Amber and brother to the Oasis gig(Image: Getty Images for BAFTA)

Radio and TV host Vernon Kay said he thought the Oasis tour could have the ability to “elevate the mood of the nation” if the gigs continue to be epic events on sunny weekends.

Vernon was one of the famous faces who headed to Cardiff for the comeback gig in Cardiff on Friday night, the first Oasis show in almost 16 years which saw Liam and Noel Gallagher hold hands on stage.

Speaking a little croakily on the phone, Radio 2 DJ Vernon Kay told the Mirror: “As you can probably tell by my voice, Oasis was epic.

“It was everything that you expected it to be. No, I’ll rephrase that, It was everything that you wanted it to be.

READ MORE: Oasis have released new tickets for UK tour – how to buy yours if you missed out

Liam Gallagher on stage at Oasis' comeback show in Cardiff on July 4th
Oasis are back! (Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

“We expected greatness, and we got fantastic. It was a gig of a lifetime, especially I think for all those people who have just got into Oasis.

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“There were a lot of young people there. There were a couple of lads next to us who hadn’t been drinking because they wanted to savour every moment, and they had their first pint at the end because it was this big a moment they wanted to savour for every second. And rightly so.

“It was superb. They played all the tunes that you wanted them to play, 23 in total, I think it was. And it just makes you realise that Oasis are as good as everyone talks up Oasis to be. They were brilliant. “

He added: “Liam’s voice was probably the best it’s been in a long, long time. Whatever he’s been doing, whatever training, whatever warm ups, whatever vocal coaching he’s been taking is absolutely working, so good. Noah was fab as always.

“It was just a great gig, hit after hit after hit. The atmosphere was really positive. And I’ve been saying on the radio that if the weather is great, this Oasis tour is really going to elevate the mood of the nation and the majority, I think all of the reviews have been fantastic, and rightly so. Oasis are back and long may continue. ”

Vernon, who will celebrate his Radio 2 show from Heaton this Friday to celebrate Oasis playing there this weekend, was not the only celebrity to sing the praises of the Oasis tour opening night in Cardiff

Noel Gallagher’s daughter Anais posted a photo of Noel and Liam and wrote: “Best night of my life,” next to it.

She also showed a photo off herself in one of the new Oasis Adidas football shirts and quoting Oasis lyrics said: “It’s good to be back. ” She had been seen hugging her dad just minutes before he went on stage.

Noel’s ex-wife Meg Matthews, mother of Anais, was also there. She wrote on instagram: “Five stars loved every minute thank you Oasis. Great to see all the old faces. It was worth the countdown. What a night. ”

* Vernon Kay is presenting his BBC Radio 2 show backstage from Heaton Park, Friday 11th July, 9. 30-12pm.

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