Trump surveys injury in Texas as search efforts proceed for 160 lacking

[ad_1] Watch: 'We're crammed with grief' - President Trump visits Texas after lethal floods

US President Donald Trump has reassured Kerrville, Texas, residents that the federal government would assist rebuild after floods hit the central a part of the state final week, killing 120 individuals.

The president and First Girl Melania Trump met on Friday with native officers on the bottom - at one level standing in entrance of an upended tractor trailer - and surveyed the injury.

"I've by no means seen something prefer it," Trump stated, after taking a tour of the devastation.

Greater than 12,300 volunteers have gathered to assist seek for the 161 individuals nonetheless lacking statewide. Officers stated volunteers have been working 10 hours a day.

Watch: BBC's Nomia Iqbal on Trump's dealing with of the Texas floods as he visits catastrophe space

Whereas storms broken properties and killed residents all through central Texas, Kerr County confronted the brunt of the floodwaters.

Trump instructed officers gathered for a day roundtable at a Kerrville youth middle that he and the primary girl had been on the town to "categorical the love and help, and the anguish of our total nation".

The primary girl, who ordinarily retains a low profile, additionally toured the devastation. She stated she hugged and prayed with households of the victims throughout her go to.

"My deepest sympathy to the entire mother and father who misplaced lovely younger souls," she stated. "We're grieving with you. Our nation is grieving with you."

She additionally promised to go to once more.

Amongst these killed within the storms had been 27 younger ladies who had been attending Camp Mystic - one in every of 18 summer season camps positioned on that stretch of the Guadalupe River.

Within the wake of the lethal tragedy, questions have been raised about whether or not sufficient warnings had been offered and why camps weren't evacuated forward of the deluge.

Consultants have stated quite a lot of issue led to the lethal impression of the flash flood, together with the pre-dawn timing, the placement of some properties, the patchwork of cell service and its total pace and severity.

Trump dismissed a media query on what extra might have been achieved to warn residents, saying: "Solely an evil particular person would ask a query like that."

The Guadalupe River ranges, which rose to flood properties, roads and automobiles, caught many abruptly.

Watch: "I pray for them" - First Girl Melania provides condolences to Texas flood victims

The disaster unfolded earlier than dawn per week in the past. The river rose 26ft (8m) within the span of simply 45 minutes. Younger youngsters and employees at summer season camps alongside the river had been asleep as climate alerts went off.

Search crews in Texas are nonetheless sifting by means of particles for scores of lacking individuals. Authorities have stated they won't relent till everyone seems to be accounted for.

Consultants say that Nationwide Climate Service (NWS) alerts had been well timed in Texas final weekend.

However some have warned that cuts to federal businesses such because the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Organisation (NOAA) and its NWS subsidiary might have an effect on the response to future sudden floods.