Intense rainfall inundated San Antonio early Thursday, causing flash floods that have resulted in at least five deaths and two people missing, according to local authorities.
The flooding struck hardest in the northeast part of the city, where authorities discovered more than a dozen vehicles submerged or overturned in a creek after being carried away by floodwaters.
The San Antonio Fire Department reported that some of those rescued described being swept off an interstate access road by “sudden fast rising water.”
According to fire department spokesperson Joe Arrington, floodwaters pushed vehicles into a creek, carrying them downstream and leaving passengers stranded.
Firefighters responded to 70 water rescue calls throughout the city, officials said. While most involved helping drivers escape stalled vehicles in high water, several required crews to enter swift-moving water to reach people in danger.
In the area where the deaths occurred, the rescue effort was described as “extremely difficult.” Ten people whose cars had been swept away were found clinging to trees and bushes about a mile from where they entered the water, according to Arrington.
San Antonio Police Chief William McManus confirmed that two women and two men were among the dead, though their ages were not immediately available.
7 Inches of Rain
The flooding was triggered by slow-moving showers and thunderstorms that dropped over seven inches of rain in parts of San Antonio, according to the National Weather Service.The heavy rainfall began overnight and persisted into Thursday morning, causing rapid rises in water levels and widespread road closures. Although flooding began to recede by midmorning, National Weather Service meteorologist Eric Platt said that even lighter rain could cause additional flooding due to already saturated ground.
Throughout the morning, emergency crews worked to clear debris and reopen roads, while officials urged residents to avoid flooded areas. The San Antonio Fire Department emphasized the dangers of driving into high water, noting that the depth and speed of floodwaters can be deceiving and deadly.