First Thing: Texas floods death toll rises as search for survivors turns to recovery operation

Authorities said about 850 people had been rescued, with more than 400 people involved in the search and rescue operation. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Good morning.

Residents in central Texas observed a day of prayer on Sunday after at least 82 people were killed with dozens still missing after Friday’s devastating flash flooding, as a search and rescue operation for survivors began to morph into a grim exercise of recovering bodies.