11 Dead, Several Missing in San Antonio Floods

At least 11 people have died and several remain missing after severe storms caused flash flooding in San Antonio, Texas. The San Antonio Fire Department reported that rescuers were searching for at least four people missing in the floods, with officials warning that the death toll may change as search and recovery efforts continue over the next few days.

The floods occurred on Wednesday and Thursday, forcing cars off roads and pushing some drivers into a creek. More than 70 water rescues were performed, with at least four people taken to hospitals with minor injuries. The San Antonio Fire Department has deployed K9 units and requested additional assistance from a statewide urban search and rescue force to aid in the search efforts.

Three of the victims who lost their lives in the floods have been identified as Martha De La Torre Rangel, Matthew Angel Tufono, and Victor Manuel Macias Castro. They were stuck in their cars near the Perrin Beitel neighborhood when the water rushed in around 05:00 local time on Thursday morning. According to fire officials, the heavy rain caused widespread flooding, sweeping vehicles into a creek and carrying them downstream.

For some families, the floods have brought devastating personal losses. Angel Richards, a local resident, shared her heart-wrenching experience of being on the phone with her husband, Stevie, when his car was swept away by floodwaters. “It’s hard because I was on the phone when this happened, and then not to have a lot of communication, to see my car, it’s devastating to me,” Richards said. “No one can say to me, ‘Hey, this is what’s going on.'”

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg expressed his condolences to the families of the flood victims, saying, “Our hearts are with the families of those we’ve lost to this week’s flash floods and the families who continue searching for their loved ones.” Joaquin Castro, a Democratic House Representative from San Antonio, also paid tribute to the victims, describing the flash floods as a “tragedy” and offering his prayers to the families and loved ones affected.

“San Antonio always stands together when tragedy strikes and we will continue to do so as our community grieves this loss,” Castro said, highlighting the city’s resilience in the face of adversity.