More than 111 people have died across six counties after flash flooding from heavy rain began affecting the state last week.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered state lawmakers to convene a special session on Monday as the death toll rose to 118, with 172 missing, following the July 5 flooding.

The death toll in the central Texas flooding is up to 119 people, 95 of them in Kerr County, including 36 children.

"Mr. Leiweke has done nothing wrong and will vigorously defend himself and his well-deserved reputation for fairness and ...