At least 24 dead and more than 20 children missing after US summer camp is swept away by extreme floods

At least 24 people have died and more than 20 children are said to be missing after flash floods in Texas in recent hours.

The Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in less than an hour as people embarked on the July 4 celebrations, with the flooding having swept away mobile homes, vehicles and holiday cabins.

At least 24 people have lost their lives, while rescue teams are continuing to search for up to 25 children who were among the 750 girls attending the Camp Mystic, a summer camp, outside the town of Kerrville.

The camp, set up in 1926, is for girls above the second grade to build their confidence and independence.

It has been left without WiFi, power and water following the floods.

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick explained that the missing children are not necessarily 'lost', adding: "They could be out of communication."

Dalton Rice, city manager for Kerrville, explained why the Guadalupe River has risen so quickly.

It's all happened on July 4 weekend (Eric Vryn/Getty Images)

He told press: "When you look at the headwaters of the Guadalupe... there's a north and a south fork.

"Since 1987, under normal conditions, if you can call it that, you'll hit water in one of those areas, and those two forks will converge into the Guadalupe, which comes through the city of Kerrville."

Rice continued: "This rain event sat on top of that and dumped more rain than what was forecasted on both of those forks.

"When we got the report, it was about 7 feet or so on the south fork, and within a matter of minutes it was up to 29 feet, and all of that converged at Guadalupe."

Col. Freeman Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said on Friday (July 4): "We brought in over 100 troopers this morning. And they've worked all day, rescues, high water vehicles, boats, rescue divers, seven rescue helicopters with hoist capabilities."

The floods have been devastating (Eric Vryn/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott added: "We will stop at nothing to ensure that every asset and person and plane, whatever is needed, is going to be involved in the process of rescuing every last person and ensure everybody involved in this is going to be fully accounted for."

President Donald Trump has been speaking to the press, describing the floods as a 'terrible thing'.

"It looks like some young people have died," Trump said, adding that his administration would work with Abbott to provide aid and support to the state during this extremely difficult time.

In a statement provided earlier on Friday, Abbott said: "Texas is providing all necessary resources to Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt and the entire Texas Hill Country dealing with these devastating floods.

"The State of Texas today has mobilized additional resources in addition to the resources sent in preparation for the storms.

"I urge Texans to heed guidance from state and local officials and monitor local forecasts to avoid driving into flooded areas."