The search and rescue operation that has been going on throughout Friday continues with full force, says Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who has declared a state of emergency.
They will continue in the darkness of night, they will work when the sun rises in the morning. They will continuously search for all who are missing, he says at a press conference late in the evening local time.
The authorities are still working to identify the deceased and warn that the death toll may also rise.
President Donald Trump calls the flooding "terrible" and "shocking", on board the presidential plane Air Force One. He also promises federal support, reports CNN.
Girls' camp evacuated
The missing girls were at a Christian summer camp with 750 participants, right next to the Guadalupe River. The participants were evacuated with helicopters in the middle of the night.
The camp was completely destroyed, says a 13-year-old girl who was rescued from a cabin.
Relatives have posted pictures of their missing on the local police's Facebook page during Friday.
The water level of the Guadalupe River rose 6.7 meters in two hours, according to the weather agency National Weather Service. When the meter stopped working, the rise was measured to nine meters.
Many campers who were out during the holiday on the US National Day on July 4 are said to have been surprised by the water masses after the sudden downpour.
Communities affected
Several communities have also been affected. Erin Burgess in the town of Ingram describes to AP how she woke up to thunder and rain and just 20 minutes later water flowed into her house opposite the river.
My son and I floated away to a tree where we held on, she says.
237 people have so far been rescued, of which 167 with the help of a helicopter, according to the authorities.
All available resources, including the Texas National Guard, have been deployed in the rescue operation.
We will not stop, says the state's governor.
