Horror as floodwaters turn BLOOD RED after Texas river burst its banks

Published: 21:44, 16 July 2026 | Updated: 21:55, 16 July 2026 A Texas river has turned into a blood red color as horror floods and rapid rising water terrorize the state's Hill County, prompting mass evacuations and road closures. Guadalupe River sent what the National Weather Service described as a 'large and deadly flood wave' downstream on July 16, after thunderstorms added several inches of rain across the region overnight.  A viral social media video showed a structure being submerged by water containing large amounts of a red fluid. The building was quickly identified as the headquarters of Pavement Restoration Inc - a business specializing in asphalt pavement preservation.  Many comments suspected the liquid to be red-dyed diesel, but Rob Wiggins - the president of Pavement Restoration - told the Daily Mail that it was a red dye used in some of their products. 'The thing is, it's highly concentrated,' he said. Wiggins stated that the company has no diesel on the premises and that the fluid came from a 44-gallon drum containing around 16 gallons of dye.  A viral social media video showed a Texas river turned blood red amidst the flooding throughout areas of Hill Country on July 16 The building belonging to Pavement Restoration Inc - a business specializing in asphalt pavement preservation - was submerged by water containing large amounts of a red fluid Rob Wiggins, the president of Pavement Restoration, stated the fluid was a highly concentrated dye and that the incident was not an environmental hazard After being submerged about 5-feet underwater, the drum burst and leaked an estimated four to seven gallons into the river.   Wiggins claimed it was not in any way an environmental hazard and said the incident was reported to the local fire marshal, police chief, and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. 'There's absolutely no smoke and mirrors,' Wiggins said as he mentioned the company had been making calls since 8:30am to help make sure it was properly dealt with.  He also mentioned that the property's retention dam is believed to have caught most of the dye, as little to no red can be seen past the company's yard after the flood receded.  Guadalupe River sent what National Weather Service described as a 'large and deadly flood wave' downstream, after thunderstorms added several inches of rain across the region overnight  In recent days, various areas of Texas have received many inches of rain leading up to the flooding Local residents were urged to get to higher ground and stay off roads, with the floods leading to highway and local road closures, evacuations, and numerous emergency shelters opening According to NWS, a flood wave refers to a surge or surge-like movement of water downstream, often caused by rapid runoff from heavy rainfall. In recent days, various areas of Texas have received many inches of rain leading up to the flooding. Local residents were urged to get to higher ground and stay off roads, with the floods leading to highway and local road closures, evacuations, and numerous emergency shelters opening.  There have been no flood-related deaths reported as of Thursday afternoon, with aerial and water units helping with rescue efforts. The Daily Mail reached out to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for comment.