Frantic searches are under way in the US state of Texas, after flash floods killed least 13 people The Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said more than 20 girls at a summer camp were still unaccounted for "Within 45 minutes, the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet and it was a destructive flood - taking property and sadly lives," he told a news conference

The area is home to many summer camps, and Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said at least 20 girls are missing from Camp Mystic. He said families whose daughters are unaccounted for have been notified; parents who have not been contacted by the camp should know their daughters are safe, he stressed.

The authorities confirmed that people had died as a result of the flooding along the Guadalupe River, and urged those living near the river to seek higher ground immediately.