AT least 50 people including children have been killed in the Texas floods, and 27 young girls still missing from their summer camp.

Rescuers are still scouring the devastated landscape in central Texas, but hopes of finding survivors are dwindling.

Worst hit was Kerr County, particularly the areas around the Guadeloupe River where waters rose by 26ft in 45 minutes following a freak dump of rainfall.

Larry Leitha, Kerr County sheriff, said: “We have recovered 43 deceased individuals in Kerr County.

“Among these who are deceased we have 28 adults and 15 children.”

Multiple people lost their lives in other counties, bringing the current confirmed death toll to 50 – though this is sadly expected to rise.

The most desperate search is for 27 school-age girls who went missing from Camp Mystic – a Christian summer camp near the river.

A spokesperson said that the parents of missing children had been notified – and many have since turned to social media to share desperate pleas for information about their girls.

Texas Department of Emergency Management chief Nim Kidd said air, ground and water-based crews were scouring the length of the Guadalupe River for survivors and the bodies of the dead.

“We will continue the search until all those who are missing are found,” he said.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said he was expanding a state disaster declaration and was requesting additional federal resources from President Donald Trump.

Out of the misery have come some extraordinary stories of survival.

A 22-year-old woman was miraculously rescued from a tree after being swept 20 miles downstream by ferocious floodwaters.