Heavy rainfall caused the Guadalupe River in Texas to flood on Friday, prompting search teams to begin rescues and leading to reports of multiple fatalities. Overnight, residents in central Kerr County witnessed as much as 10 inches of heavy rain within just a few hours.

The deadly Texas floods have brought the state's approach to land approvals, especially in flood-prone areas, under more scrutiny.

Central Texas is infamous for its flash flooding and arid soil, hard-packed ground into which water does not easily infiltrate. So when rain hits the ground, it runs off the region's hilly terrain and canyons and accumulates into creeks and rivers rapidly, overwhelming them, causing them to rise quickly.

More than 170 people are still believed to be missing a week after the forceful floodwater hit over the July Fourth weekend.

A young father and fiancé in Ingram, Texas, is among the latest people being mourned after torrential rains and flash floods in the central part of the state

A flood gauge marks the height of water flowing over a farm-to-market road near Kerrville, Texas, on Friday, July 4, 2025. Eric Gay/AP