Soccer coach and wife killed in Texas floods as their kids remain missing with death toll at 52: Live updates
Updated:
A beloved soccer coach and his wife have been confirmed among those killed by the devastating floods sweeping Texas, as the death toll surpasses 50 people.
The ongoing deluge which started on July 3 has taken the lives of at least 52 people, including 15 children, while destroying thousands of homes and businesses.
Soccer coach Reece Zunker and his wife Paula died in the horrific torrent – and their two young children are still missing.
The couple’s family and local soccer team confirmed their deaths on social media, while one relative said their house was spotted ‘floating down the Guadalupe River’.
It comes as residents have started questioning why officials failed to warn them about the floods until 1.18pm on July 3, and framed them as only ‘moderate’ storms.
The National Weather Service escalated the alert to a flash flood warning at 1am Friday, then a more serious Flash Flood Emergency by 4.30am – but by this stage water was already pouring into families’ homes.
A flood watch remains in place for many of the worst-hit areas of central Texas through Sunday, including Kerrville County where the majority of the deaths have been recorded. Forecasters have warned that more rain is on the way.
Beloved soccer coach and wife among the dead
Reece Zunker and his wife Paula are among those who died in the devastating floods, and their two young children are still missing.
The couple’s family and local soccer team confirmed their deaths on social media, while one relative said their house was spotted ‘floating down the Guadalupe River’.
Tivy Boys Soccer team paid tribute to their coach in a Facebook post, saying he ‘rebuilt the soccer program and left a legacy’.
‘His passion for his players, students, co-workers, community and his family will never be forgotten,’ the team wrote.
Dozens of people commented on the post to share the ‘incredible’ impact he had on their lives.
Meteorologists warn more flooding could be on the way for the worst-hit county
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for several counties including Kerrville County in Texas, which has seen the worst of the flooding so far.
Meteorologists have warned that ‘flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible’ in the region until 1pm on Sunday.
