HUNT, Texas: Rescuers searched Saturday (Jul 5) for 27 girls missing from a riverside summer camp in the US state of Texas, after torrential rains caused devastating flooding that killed at least 32 people - with more rain pounding the region.

"There's 32 deceased, 18 of those are adults and 14 are children. Five of the adults remain unidentified and three children remain unidentified," said Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha.

Leitha earlier put the number of evacuated people at 850, including eight reported injured.

Addressing a press conference, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said he was expanding a state disaster declaration and was requesting additional federal resources from US President Donald Trump.

Texas Department of Emergency Management chief Nim Kidd said air, ground and water-based crews were scouring the length of the Guadalupe River for survivors and the bodies of the dead.

"We will continue the search until all those who are missing are found," he said.

The flooding began Friday as months' worth of rain fell in a matter of hours, causing the Guadalupe River to rise by 8m in 45 minutes.

The National Weather Service warned that more rain was forecast, and that "excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations".

In Kerrville on Saturday, the usually calm Guadalupe was flowing fast, its murky waters filled with debris.

"The water reached the top of the trees. About 10m or so," said local resident Ger...