At least four of the missing Camp Mystic girls have been found dead during search and rescue operations following the devastating flooding in the US state of Texas, as the death toll rose to 27, according to officials and local reports.

Renee Smajstrla, 8; Sarah Marsh, 8; Janie Hunt, 9; and Lila Bonner were among as many as dozens of campers who were washed away in the deadly Guadalupe River flash floods early on Friday morning — including some who were in cabins that were washed out.

A total of 27 bodies were recovered as of Saturday — nine of which were children, Kerr County Sheriff Larry L. Leitha said at a press conference.

The flooding occurred across much of central Texas, most devastatingly at a Christian summer camp for girls, Camp Mystic, which is located next to the Guadalupe River.

Aerial footage of Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas after the deadly flood. Picture: @chiproytx/X

A view inside of a cabin at Camp Mystic. Picture: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP

“Thank you to all our friends and family for all the prayers and outreach. Renee has been found and while not the outcome we prayed for, the social media outreach likely assisted the first responders in helping to identify her so quickly,” Renee’s uncle wrote on Facebook along with a picture of the young girl beaming.

“We are thankful she was with her friends and having the time of her life, as evidenced by this picture from yesterday. She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic. Please continue to pray for the other families in Kerrville.”

Janie was also discovered dead, according to Corpus Christi Crónica.

Renee Smajstrla died in the floods, according to her uncle.

Janie Hunt also died in the floods, according to a report.

“She will live on in our hearts forever!” Sarah Marsh’s grandmother wrote on Facebook after the 8-year-old was found dead. “We love you so much sweet Sarah!”

Lila’s family confirmed her death in a statement in which they described suffering “unimaginable grief,” according to NBC News.

The nine-year-old’s mother had told CNN Friday that she had not heard anything about her daughter’s whereabouts after the flood hit the camp.“We are just praying,” Janie’s mother had said.

The camp, which hosts up to 750 girls, was overwhelmed by the floodwaters, which at one point saw the river swell by eight metres in just 45 minutes.

“The camp was completely destroyed,” Elinor Lester, 13, one of the evacuated campers, told The Associated Press.

“A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.”

The flooded Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas. Picture: Eric Vryn/Getty Images via AFP

Damage caused by the floodwaters. Picture: Michel Fortier/SA Express-News via AP

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick previously said “about 23” girls attending a summer camp in the flooded Kerr County were missing.

A director and co-owner of a separate girls camp along the Guadalupe River called Heart O’ the Hills has died. That camp was not in session at the time of the flooding.

The bodies of both adults and children have been retrieved by emergency responders, and a couple hundred people have been evacuated.

Texas officials refused to confirm the identities of the dead or missing, saying they were protecting the privacy of the grieving families.

It is not clear if any of the other campers had been found dead, but local reports indicate that some of the girls were rescued and were transported to family reunification centers.

“Within 45 minutes, the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet and it was a destructive flood, taking property and sadly lives,” Mr Patrick, filling in for the holidaying Governor Greg Abbott, said during a news conference.

He said the area had copped about 12 inches (300 millimetres) of rain per hour.

There are more than 700 emergency responders on the ground, and in the air, searching for survivors and those in need of aid. They’re being helped by 14 helicopters and 12 drones.

“That does not mean they’ve been lost,” Mr Patrick said of the missing girls, saying everyone was “praying for them to be found alive”.

“They could be in a tree, they could be out of communication.”

Camp Mystic says it has informed the parents of all the missing children.

Emergency responders searching along the river. Picture: Christopher Lee/The San Antonio Express-News via AP

A Black Hawk helicopter searching for anyone in need of help. Picture: Eric Vryn/Getty Images via AFP

The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office has now updated its death toll to 27, and that may well rise even further.

“It’s going to be a massive casualty event,” said Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety Freeman Martin.

During the media conference, Mr Patrick made a promise to the parents of the missing children from Camp Mystic.

“If they are alive and safe, we will find them and bring them home to you,” he said.

“We will do everything humanly possible 24/7, looking in every tree turning over every rock.”

Virginia Hollis was among the children staying at Camp Mystic.

Kellyanne Lytal.

Lainey Landry.

Hadley Hannah.

Surviving children will be evacuated from the camp.

The camp is currently without power or internet. A statement from its administrators, read out by the Lieutenant-Governor, stressed that the level of flooding was “catastrophic”.

“The highway has washed away, so we are struggling to get more help,” the camp said.

The communications problems are being exacerbated by the camp’s rule of imposing a ban on technology for the children staying there.

“Technology is actually not allowed there,” said NewsNation reporter Tracy Walder, whose daughter is friends with some of the missing kids.

“That’s why communication and information is kind of a bit difficult to come by.”

Mr Abbott, in a written statement, said Texas was “providing all necessary resources to Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt and the entire Texas Hill Country dealing with these devastating floods”.

“The state of Texas today has mobilised additional resources in addition to the resources sent in preparation for the storms. I urge Texans to heed guidance from state and local officials and monitor local forecasts to avoid driving into flooded areas.”

A man surveys damage left by the floodwaters. Picture: Eric Gray/AP

And two employees from a campervan park look over the area from which dozens of trailers had been swept away. Picture: Michel Fortier/The San Antonio Express-News via AP

Texas Senator Ted Cruz, asked his followers on social media to “pray right now” for all involved, “especially Camp Mystic”.

“It’s terrible, the floods,” US President Donald Trump told reporters Friday night. “It’s shocking.”

Asked if Texas would receive federal aid, he said: “Oh yeah, sure, we’ll take care of it. We’re working with the governor.”

Meanwhile, officials are warning residents of the area to continue being vigilant.

“The rain has let up, but we know there’s another wave coming,” Mr Martin said, adding that more rain would be hitting areas around the cities San Antonio and Austin.

Forecasters issued a flood warning for one county, urging those living near the Guadalupe River to “move to higher ground”.

Flash floods, which occur when the ground is unable to absorb torrential rainfall, are not unusual in the region.

– with AFP and NY Post