Chaos mars America's Independence Day celebrations

As Americans marked their 249th Independence Day on Friday, scenes of celebration were overshadowed by a series of disasters, both natural and man-made, painting a stark portrait of a nation in turmoil.

From deadly floods and raging wildfires to mass shootings and sweeping protests, the United States spent its July 4th holiday weekend not in unity, but in crisis.

Deadly floods and wildfires ravage communities

In Texas, torrential rains on Friday evening triggered catastrophic flooding, with the death toll climbing to 51, including 15 children, according to a CMG reporter.

Kerr County, one of the hardest-hit areas, is also the site of a girls' summer camp that was overwhelmed by rising waters. Around 750 children were present at the time, and currently, several remain unaccounted for, sparking widespread concern.

Meanwhile, in California, the Madre Fire, now in its fourth day, has scorched over 322 square kilometers of land. Fire officials say only 10 percent of the blaze is under control, making it the largest wildfire in California so far this year. Mandatory evacuations are underway, roads have been closed, and dozens of structures remain under threat.

The holiday's violence was not confined to nature. In Nashville, Tennessee, three people were injured when celebratory gunfire during fireworks allegedly struck bystanders: a 60-year-old man, a 58-year-old woman, and a 26-year-old woman. The individuals are all in stable condition with no immediate risk to life.

Just hours later, a separate shooting in Indianapolis, Indiana left two dead and at least seven injured, prompting police to seal off multiple streets in the city center.

In Philadelphia, chaos erupted once again when a bar in the city's south became the site of a mass shooting around 3:50 a.m. on Saturday. Eleven people were injured, including a security guard shot in the face and a woman hit in the back. Two of the victims remain in critical condition.

'Free America'

As fireworks lit the skies and chants filled the streets, hundreds of thousands across the country geared up for nationwide "Free America" rallies on Friday. According to The Times, the demonstrations were expected to be the longest in a line of protests that have taken place in the U.S. after Donald Trump's return to the White House.

The demonstrations also come just one day after Trump's sprawling tax and spending bill, known as the "big beautiful bill," was passed by the House of Representatives.

The Women's March, the main organizers of the protests, on Thursday highlighted their concern on Facebook over Trump's bill affecting reproductive rights, pointing to a provision that imposes a one-year Medicaid funding ban on family planning nonprofits that provide abortion services.

Organizers also said the focus of this round of protests is to challenge the influence of billionaires, combat poverty, resist unlawful commands and reject fear-based politics.