Photo: shaunl / iStock / Getty Images
Heavy rains in San Antonio on Thursday (June 12) caused severe flooding, resulting in the deaths of four people and leaving two others missing. The flooding, which occurred after slow-moving showers and thunderstorms, rapidly submerged roads and swept away vehicles, particularly in the northeast part of the city.
The San Antonio Fire Department made 65 water rescues between midnight and 8 a.m. Firefighters rescued several people who had climbed trees to escape the fast-rising waters. Spokesperson Joe Arrington reported that floodwaters swept vehicles into a creek, where they were carried downstream.
Authorities found over a dozen vehicles in the water, and by afternoon, crews were pulling heavily damaged cars out of the creek. The deceased include two women and two men, though their ages have not been disclosed. In addition to the fatalities, ten people were rescued from the same area, with four of them hospitalized for injuries.
The National Weather Service reported that over seven inches of rain fell in parts of San Antonio. While flooding began to recede by midmorning, meteorologist Eric Platt warned that any additional rainfall on the saturated ground could lead to further flooding.
Search efforts for the missing individuals continue, with crews using search dogs to aid in the operation.