SAN ANTONIO, TX — Death Toll Rises to 13 Following Catastrophic Flash Flooding; All Missing Accounted For
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The city of San Antonio is mourning the loss of 13 lives following a devastating flash flood event that struck the region on Thursday, June 12, 2025. As of Saturday, officials have confirmed that all individuals previously reported missing have now been found, bringing a grim end to the desperate search and rescue efforts that had gripped the city for the past two days.
Over a span of just a few hours, San Antonio was pummeled by more than 7 inches (18 centimeters) of torrential rain. The deluge overwhelmed stormwater systems and led to sudden, violent flash floods, particularly in the northeastern part of the city where Beitel Creek quickly swelled to dangerous levels. The surging water swept more than a dozen vehicles off roadways and into the churning creek, triggering a large-scale emergency response across the metro area.
According to the San Antonio Fire Department, the bulk of the tragedy occurred in and around the Perrin Beitel Road corridor, a heavily trafficked area intersecting Beitel Creek. Eleven of the 13 confirmed victims were recovered from this vicinity, with an additional person found several miles upstream. Most of the victims were discovered inside their submerged or overturned vehicles, while others were located downstream after being swept away by the powerful current.
“It was one of the most intense rescue efforts we’ve coordinated in recent memory,” said Fire Chief Charles Hood, addressing reporters during a Saturday afternoon briefing. “We deployed swift water rescue teams, drones, boats, and helicopters. Dozens of our personnel worked around the clock in hazardous conditions to save lives — and recover those we sadly could not reach in time.”
During the storm’s peak, first responders carried out more than 70 water rescues across the city. In some cases, terrified residents were found clinging to trees or trapped on rooftops as water rapidly engulfed their neighborhoods. Multiple roads turned into rivers within minutes, stranding drivers who had underestimated the severity of the flash flooding. Emergency alerts were sent out across mobile devices warning residents to avoid low-lying areas, but the speed and intensity of the rainfall left little time for many to react.
Among the survivors were several families who were pulled from partially submerged vehicles, often just seconds before the currents intensified. Eyewitness accounts described scenes of chaos and heroism — neighbors forming human chains, firefighters wading through chest-deep water, and strangers risking their own safety to help one another.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg offered his condolences and praise for the first responders, calling the incident “a profound tragedy that underscores the power of nature and the courage of our city’s emergency personnel.”
“Today, San Antonio grieves,” Mayor Nirenberg said in a statement. “We’ve lost 13 members of our community to this disaster — mothers, fathers, friends, neighbors. But through that pain, we’ve also seen the very best of San Antonio — people coming together, risking their lives to help, and never giving up on finding the missing. We are resilient, and we will recover together.”
At least two area hospitals reported receiving multiple flood-related patients, though most have since been treated and released. As of Saturday afternoon, no additional fatalities are expected, and all previously missing individuals have been located, either alive or deceased.
Perrin Beitel Road, where the majority of fatalities occurred, remains closed to the public while cleanup crews and investigators continue recovery efforts and damage assessments. Dozens of vehicles remain scattered along the creek banks and in adjacent wooded areas, many crushed or submerged.
Officials are urging residents to continue exercising caution, especially as parts of the city remain waterlogged and unstable. The National Weather Service has warned that more rain could fall in the coming days, potentially complicating recovery efforts and heightening the risk of further flooding in already saturated regions.
This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the lethal potential of flash flooding in urban environments — particularly in cities like San Antonio, where low-lying roads and rapid development near creeks and streams can quickly become death traps during extreme weather events.
As the city enters a period of mourning, plans are underway for a public memorial service honoring the lives lost. Several churches and community organizations have also stepped forward to provide grief counseling, shelter, and financial support to those affected.
Meanwhile, GoFundMe campaigns and local charities have begun organizing relief funds to assist the families of the deceased — many of whom are said to have been simply going about their daily commutes when tragedy struck.
For now, San Antonio holds its breath, reflecting on a catastrophic 24 hours that forever changed the lives of many — and reminded all who call the city home of the unpredictable and often unforgiving power of nature.