Houston, Texas — July 5, 2025
A catastrophic flash flood that swept across southeast Texas over the weekend has taken a devastating turn, as 27 teenage girls remain missing after being caught in the floodwaters during a school-sponsored summer field trip. And now, what rescuers discovered this morning has the entire nation fearing the worst.
The group, all between the ages of 13 and 17, were part of a youth leadership program based in Harris County. They were last seen late Saturday afternoon near the Brazos River Nature Reserve, where they had gone for a guided hike. According to reports, the weather turned deadly within minutes, catching the group off guard and cutting off access to higher ground.
“They Just Disappeared.”
Search-and-rescue teams, helicopters, and canine units have been deployed nonstop for over 36 hours. But early this morning, teams located a partially submerged yellow school backpack — later confirmed to belong to one of the missing girls — along with several muddy sneakers and a torn journal page stuck to a fallen tree, reading:
“We’re trying to stay together. Water’s rising.”
That chilling message was timestamped just before 5:42 PM on the day the girls disappeared. For many involved in the operation, it was the most haunting moment so far.
“We thought we’d find footprints. Voices. Something,” said Chief Alan Reyes of the Texas Emergency Task Force. “Instead, we found silence… and that note.”
Families on Edge
At a temporary crisis center set up at the local high school, families are refusing to leave. Some hold photos, others clutch phones, waiting for an update. The parents have been urged not to enter the flooded zone — but several fathers reportedly attempted to cross restricted barriers this morning after hearing about the backpack discovery.
“They’re just babies,” said Marta Gonzalez, mother of 14-year-old Eva. “How do 27 girls just vanish like this?”
A Race Against Time — And Water
With more rain in the forecast and river levels still dangerously high, officials warn that the window for rescue may be narrowing. Boats have been deployed deeper into the woods, where massive debris piles and downed trees have made progress slow and dangerous.
One rescuer broke down during an interview with local news, saying:
“We don’t want to talk about bodies yet. We’re still hoping for miracles. But hope… is getting quieter.”
Nation Watches, Prays, and Waits
The story has captured national attention, with celebrities, athletes, and politicians posting messages of solidarity using the hashtag #FindThe27. Volunteers have arrived from surrounding counties with food, flashlights, and dry blankets, still praying the girls may be found alive and sheltering somewhere in the forest.
What Happens Next?
Officials say they will expand the search radius by 10 miles and begin night-vision drone sweeps. But with the emotional and physical toll mounting, this may become one of the most heartbreaking rescue efforts in Texas history.
