Esther Chung dies in fatal San Antonio flash flood
Fatal San Antonio flash flood death of Esther Chung
The Bexar County medical examiner has officially identified the final victim from the catastrophic flash floods that struck San Antonio earlier this month. Esther Chung, aged 77, represents both the last individual identified and the oldest person lost in the June 12 deluge. Her remains were located in the Perrin Beitel and Loop 410 region on the city’s northeast side. Rescue teams extracted eleven bodies from a traffic jam along an access road where a torrent of water forcefully propelled vehicles into a nearby creek bed. Fifteen cars were swept away during this deadly event.
Officials detail that crews dedicated considerable time to retrieve submerged automobiles from the Salado Creek bed immediately following the flooding incident. Many of these vehicles were discovered severely contorted or inverted. A collaborative effort involved multiple agencies, including San Antonio Fire Services, the San Antonio Police Department, and Texas A&M Task Force 1, a specialized federal search-and-rescue unit. While twelve victims had been identified previously, the recent discovery completes the list of thirteen individuals who lost their lives.
Tragically, the fatalities included Cristine Gonzalez, a 29-year-old United States Army firefighter who was engaged in marriage; Matthew Tufono, aged 51, celebrating his birthday with loved ones at the time of his death; and Stevie Richards, a 42-year-old father of three. The youngest victim in this heartbreaking event was 28 years old.
The meteorological impact was severe, with San Antonio International Airport recording 6.12 inches of rainfall on June 12th, establishing a new record for the city within the twelve-year observation period.
Local authorities acted swiftly, with Mayor Ron Nirenberg and County Judge Peter Sakai jointly declaring a disaster to seek federal assistance. The city is concurrently conducting an investigation into infrastructure-related and preparatory factors that contributed to the severity of the flooding. Engineering consultants from Kleinfelder, Inc. have been engaged to support this review. Officials are actively compiling data on the total damages sustained.
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has pledged full transparency regarding the findings. The unprecedented event has prompted a thorough reassessment of flood management strategies and emergency response protocols.
