The situation turned dire overnight as a half-foot or more of rainfall led to fast-moving floodwaters in parts of San Antonio and neighboring communities.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Heavy rains in San Antonio rapidly flooded roads, swept away submerged cars and sent some people scrambling up trees to escape fast-rising waters Thursday while firefighters made dozens of rescues across the nation’s seventh-largest city. At least five people died and two were still missing, authorities said.

At least five people have been pronounced dead and two people are missing amid flash flooding in San Antonio, Texas, authorities have confirmed.