The Texas senator was seen touring the Parthenon in Athens. His staff said the senator booked the earliest flight back to Texas when he learned of the disaster.

Texas’ junior senator was visiting Greece Friday when the Texas flood turned deadly. Cruz, who did not return until Sunday night, communicated with officials from Athens.

GOP Sen. Ted Cruz was on a pre-planned vacation in Greece with his family when devastating floods hit central Texas, and he sought to travel back “as fast as humanly possible,” his office said.