South Texas is grappling with the aftermath of devastating floods that resulted in at least three fatalities and prompted emergency rescues for over 200 residents. After heavy rain commenced on Thursday, regions near the Texas-Mexico border, including Harlingen, reported more than 21 inches of rainfall, with parts of Hidalgo County receiving up to 14 inches within a single day, according to CBS News.

The mayor of Harlingen, Norma Sepulveda, emphasized the challenges faced by the community, stating, "This of course has been a historic and challenging event for the city. But Harlingen is strong. We have faced adversity before and we will get through this together." As the storm subsided, rescue efforts continued with more than 200 people still awaiting assistance.

Emergency services in the city of Alamo conducted over 100 water rescues, as residents became trapped in their homes and vehicles. Similarly, Weslaco experienced around 14 inches of rain, leading to an alarming number of rescues of motorists and residents stranded by rising waters. Flooding has severely impacted approximately 200 homes in affected communities.

In addition, the region faced significant challenges with power outages affecting approximately 3,400 customers in multiple counties. The local airport in Harlingen temporarily closed its operations as floodwaters surged.

The National Weather Service has issued ongoing flood warnings for Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy counties. They cautioned that, despite a temporary lull in rainfall, any further precipitation could exacerbate flooding conditions due to already saturated ground.

This unprecedented weather event has not only affected the towns in South Texas but has also extended into parts of Mexico, bringing challenges to border regions including Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon.

Emergency shelters have been set up in Alamo, Weslaco, and Harlingen for displaced residents. School districts across the affected regions have canceled classes as a precautionary measure. Local officials continue to assess the damage and coordinate rescue operations. For more updates on the unfolding situation, stakeholders are urged to monitor announcements from local authorities and stay informed via news outlets.

For ongoing updates, check the full reports from Newsweek, New York Times, India Times, and CBS News.