United States of America

San Antonio Flash Floods Kill 11, Several Still Missing

Published JUN 14 2025

Story

Above: Boats on a river in San Antonio. Image credit: Unsplash

The Facts

At least 11 people died and several remain missing after severe flash flooding struck San Antonio, Texas, on Thursday morning, with torrential rains dumping over 7 inches of water in just hours across the nation's seventh-largest city.
NBC
BBC News
New York Post
The flooding occurred when thunderstorms produced between 3 and 8 inches of rainfall from midnight Wednesday until approximately 6 a.m. Thursday, with some areas receiving a month's worth of rain in just one hour near the Perrin Beitel neighborhood.
New York Post
Accuweather
CNN
At least 15 vehicles were swept into rapidly rising creek waters near Loop 410 and Perrin Beitel Road, with rescue crews pulling at least 10 people from trees and bushes approximately one mile from where their cars entered the water.
San Antonio Report
NBC
Fox Weather
The San Antonio Fire Department conducted more than 70 water rescues across the city since Thursday morning, with search teams, including K9 units and Texas A&M Task Force 1, focusing their efforts on the Salado Creek and Leon Creek areas.
Independent
BBC News
Fox Weather
The Bexar County Medical Examiner has publicly identified three victims as Martha De La Torre Rangel (55), Victor Manuel Macias Castro (28), and Matthew Angel Tufono (51), all found near the Perrin Beitel area.
San Antonio Report
BBC News
The storm system also produced two confirmed EF0 tornadoes in neighboring Hays County, with winds between 65 and 85 mph. Meanwhile, 18 roadways remained closed Friday due to flooding damage, and 15 of the city's 141 low-water crossings sustained structural damage.
Independent
NBC

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

This tragedy underscores the devastating consequences of inadequate flood infrastructure and poor urban planning in rapidly expanding cities. San Antonio's thin soil layer over bedrock creates dangerous conditions where water cannot be absorbed, turning streets into deadly torrents within minutes. The city's 141 low-water crossings are death traps that should have been upgraded years ago.

Kens5.Com

Narrative B

These flash floods highlight an unavoidable natural disaster that overwhelms even well-prepared emergency response systems. The rainfall amounts were unprecedented — a 1-in-50 to 1-in-100-year event that no infrastructure could handle. First responders performed heroically, conducting over 70 rescues and deploying specialized search teams immediately.

Accuweather