THE family of an eight-year-old girl who died in the flash floods that hit a summer camp in Texas have made a touching tribute.

Renee Smajstrla is one of nine children who died after the Guadalupe River in Kerr County rose by 26ft in just 45 minutes on Friday.

As of Saturday morning at least 27 people have been confirmed dead and a desperate search continues for the dozens still missing.

Renee’s family confirmed the tragic news in a heartbreaking tribute on social media.

They shared the final photo taken of Renee which was of her smiling while at Camp Mystic an all-girls Christian summer camp on Thursday, hours before the devastating floods hit.

She can be seen smiling on a step dressed in pink – an image her family are finding comfort in.

“We are thankful she was with her friends and having the time of her life, as evidenced by this picture from yesterday,” her uncle Shawn Salta wrote on Facebook.

“She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic.”

Salta thanked friends and family for their prayers and their help trying to locate Renee.

“While not the outcome we prayed for, the social media outreach likely assisted the first responders in helping to identify her so quickly,” he wrote.

Hours earlier while Renee was still unaccounted for, her aunt Michelle spoke of “a long day of worry and prayer” as she asked the local community to help get her home “safe and sound”.

Another family member has since shared her uncle’s tribute, saying: “One of the biggest tragedies hit Kerrville last night.

“Our first responders did all they could (and still are), but we really had no warnings.. no one expected this.

“Renee you are a beautiful girl and you are in the best hands now with the man that created us. Rest in peace baby.”

Fellow camper Janie Hunt, 9, is also one of the children known to have died in the floods.

Her mother Anne confirmed her death to CNN saying she had been “praying” for her daughter’s safe return.

Over 25 girls are still missing from the camp as well as an unknown number of people from the local area.

Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said on Saturday that 27 girls are still reported missing from the camp that hosts around 750 children.

“We do not have an accurate count, and we don’t even want to begin to estimate at this time,” he said of missing local residents.

Officials confirmed that over 850 residents have been successfully evacuated.

“We will not stop until every single person is found,” the County Sheriff said as the painstaking search for survivors continues.

“I can’t tell you how long it’s going to take,” he added.