At least two people have died in flooding across central Texas – the same area that saw more than 130 deaths in flash floods last summer.

“Large and deadly” flooding from the Guadalupe River is expected to ravage the region, following days of torrential rain, the National Weather Service (NWS) in San Antonio reported. Last year’s flash floods originated from the same river.

Both victims were killed in vehicles swept away by the currents. Emergency responders have saved at least 230 people from the floods.

More than 130 people died in South Texas floods last July, including 25 children and two counsellors at Camp Mystic, an all-girls camp near Kerrville, Texas, located along the river.

Rain continued to batter the already flooded Texas region on Friday morning.

In a Thursday afternoon update, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced at least two people have died in the torrents.

One man was swept away in his camper van, and a woman was caught in the current as she drove her car down flooded roads.

The rainfall Is “record-shattering”, he said.

“Through the weekend, we are expecting 30 inches of total rain,” Abbott wrote in a social media post. “This is higher than last year’s precipitation.”

“We will be doing everything possible to save human life.”

He added that there have been about 230 rescues. Rescuers used boats and helicopters, and waded through flooded streets to help those trapped in the water.

One moment caught on body cam footage showed a rescuer saving a family of three and their dogs, who were sheltering in their destroyed home. A girl was airlifted to safety, with the rescuer telling the rest of the family that another helicopter was on the way.

The NWS has offered constant updates, noting the urgent threat and urging for people to get to safety. Flash flood warning remain in place in several areas across the region.

“CATASTROPHIC flooding is occurring. Move to higher ground now! Guadalupe River is rapidly rising and will continue!” The San Antonio NWS posted on X on Thursday.

The Guadalupe River surged 32ft (975cm) in a four-hour span, according to the Texas Tribune.

The flooding has impacted several counties in Texas, including Uvalde, Kerr and Kendall.

Video from the area shows cars slowly driving through flooded roads, with the brown water reaching up to their windows. A group of deer drifted with the current, stretching to hold their heads above water.

Rescuers lifted small children out of the rising waters, carrying them in their arms as they waded back to dry land.

The rain continued to splatter cars parked in a residential area, half-submerged in a brown soup.

Carter Lopez, 30, lives in Boerne, Texas, one of the areas affected by the floods. He helped pull people out of the water near his apartment, he told BBC News.

Lopez’s downstairs neighbours had nearly four inches of water flood their home after Thursday’s storm. They had to take shelter in Lopez apartment, he said.

Last year’s floods weren’t “quite as bad” as this year, he said. Boerne was less affected by the weather conditions last summer than nearby Kerr, which is home to Camp Mystic.

“This is not something we could really prepare for,” Lopez said.

At the girls’ Christian summer camp Camp Mystic, the Guadalupe River rose 26ft in about 45 minutes over the 2025 Fourth of July holiday. A total of 25 campers lost their lives after being swept away by forceful currents.

Camp Mystic decided not to reopen this year and filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. (BBC)

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