At least 32 people have been killed and dozens are missing as heavy rain caused flash flooding in the US state of Texas.
Officials stated that a further 23 children are missing from a girls' camp after around 10 inches (25cm) of rainfall occurred in just a few hours overnight.
Rescue teams are working to save those trapped in high water, local officials say. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said search and rescue operations will be "limitless", adding multiple resources will be devoted to the effort.
The sheriff's office in Kerr County said more than 800 people had been evacuated from the region as flood waters receded in the area around the Guadalupe River, around 85 miles (137 km) northwest of San Antonio.
A person is rescued via helicopter from the flash floods
|REUTERS
A picnic area lies damaged after deadly flooding in Kerrville,
|REUTERS
President Donald Trump said the federal government is working with state and local officials to respond to the flooding
"Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy. Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best," he said on social media.
Videos posted online showed bare concrete platforms where homes used to stand and piles of rubble along the banks of the river.
Rescuers plucked residents from rooftops and trees, sometimes forming human chains to fetch people from the floodwater, local media reported.
Dalton Rice, city manager for Kerrville, the county seat, told reporters that the extreme flooding struck before dawn with little or no warning, precluding authorities from issuing advance evacuation orders as the Guadalupe River swiftly rose above major flood stage in less than two hours.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Houses flooded following torrential rains that unleashed flash floods along the Concho River in San Angelo
|REUTERS
A walkway is blocked by fallen trees following deadly flooding in Kerrville, Texas
|REUTERS
Elinor Lester, 13, said she and her cabin mates were woken up by a storm at 1.30am and had to be helicoptered to safety.
She said: "The camp was completely destroyed," describing the situation as "really scary".
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the top local elected official, said: "Everybody is doing everything in their power to get these kids out.
"We have floods all the time. This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States."
When reporters pressed Kelly about why more precautions were not taken, he emphasised that "we had no reason to believe this was going to be anything like what's happened here. None whatsoever."
People watch as the flash flood sweeps through
|REUTERS
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said the Guadalupe River had risen 26 feet (eight metres) in 45 minutes as heavy showers soaked the region.
Patrick said: "We're praying for all of those missing to be found alive. We're doing everything we can to get in there."