Police have located the van that was carrying a family of six when it was swept off a road and into raging Hurricane Harvey floodwaters.
The white van was found submerged in about 10 feet water on Wednesday in Green’s Bayou in northeast Houston.
Authorities released a heartbreaking photo of the van after it was found.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the bodies of two adults could be seen in the front seat but the children were obscured because of the water conditions and angle of the vehicle.
The white van was found submerged in about 10 feet water on Wednesday in Green’s Bayou in northeast Houston
Authorities are trying to decide whether dive team members will retrieve the bodies or if it would be safer to pull the van from the treacherous water first.
Samuel Saldivar told deputies he was in his brother’s van rescuing his parents and relatives from their flooded home on Sunday when the van was tossed by a strong current into the bayou as it crossed a bridge.
He escaped through a window but the others were trapped.
Devy Saldivar, 16, and her brothers and sister Dominic, 14, Xavier, 8, and Daisy, 6, as well as their great-grandparents, Manuel, 83, and Belia, 81, all drowned after their van hit floodwater.
Six members of a family – including Xavier Saldivar (left), 8, and his sister Daisy (right), 6, as well as their siblings and great-grandparents – died in the Hurricane Harvey floods Monday
They had just crossed a bridge in Houston when their van was swept away by strong flood-water currents. Devy Saldivar (left), 16, and her brother Dominic (right), 14, also died
Their great-grandparents Manuel and Belia Saldivar (pictured), aged 81 and 83, respectively, also drowned. The driver – the children’s great-uncle – survived the accident
The van ran into trouble van after it crossed a bridge and hit high floodwater on Green River Drive.
The survivor, who has not been identified, managed to grab onto a branch and told the children to climb out of the back door of the van, but they were unable to do so.
Instead, it sunk quickly – taking the family with it.
Witnesses to the incident said that although there were emergency crews in the area, it happened too fast for them to respond.
The bodies have not yet been recovered. Three family members confirmed the incident, but authorities have yet to release an official statement.
Belia and Manuel Saldivar (pictured together left) are presumed dead. Daisy, Xavier and Dominic Saldivar (pictured right together), are three of the four children presumed dead after their van sank
As of 3pm CT, the children’s grandmother, Virginia Saldivar, was awaiting rescue.
‘If anyone has a boat that can come rescue us on Talton St please come,’ she posted on Facebook. ‘This is getting so scary with the water rising.’
Adriana Saldivar replied: ‘We gave the helicopter people your address they will be looking at roofs and open space.’
A GoFundMe account set up to help the family of the dead children was posted to Virginia Saldivar’s page.