51 people have been killed by flash floods along the Guadalupe River in Texas, including a number of youngsters from the Christian girls’ summer camp Camp Mystic. A number of others are still missing.

The catastrophe occurred early on Friday, July 4, when the majority of campers and inhabitants were asleep when a flood alarm was issued at 4 AM.

Five young girls have already been confirmed deceased when the strong surge engulfed Camp Mystic: Renee Smajstrla, age eight; Sarah Marsh, age eight; Janie Hunt, age nine; Lila Bonner, age nine; and Eloise Peck, age eight.

Dick Eastland, the director of Camp Mystic, perished while trying to pull campers out of their cabins as floodwaters surged, according to KSAT. Jane Ragsdale, the director of the nearby Heart O’ The Hills Camp, also perished in the flooding, even though that camp was not in session, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Photographs taken inside the camp showed the devastation: backpacks strewn around, a drenched plush animal on outdoor steps next to twisted clothes, and mud caked on pink and purple mattresses.

Items were entangled in branches and vegetation as the floodwaters carried away entire walls and halfway up the cabin windows.

“The camp was completely destroyed,” 13-year-old camper Elinor Lester said after being evacuated, per ABC30. “A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.”

Although some were rescued, local officials reported that 27 girls from Camp Mystic were washed away, several of them in cabins that completely washed out.

Ashley Flack, whose daughter Annie was found safe, said: “There are lots of families missing, children and friends missing. Our daughter is safe. Our son is safe. The operation to get the girl camp out did a good job. It was very organized, and we’re still hoping and praying for good news for friends that are hoping and praying for good news.”