Selena's dad, Abraham Quintanilla, posted the news on Facebook, explaining relatives of theirs tragically drowned when they became trapped in a van while trying to escape the rising waters.

Abraham said Manuel Saldivar -- whose mother was Abraham's dad's first cousin -- drowned along with his wife, Belia, and their 4 grandchildren. The driver of the van survived.

Selena was hugely popular in Texas -- her birth state. She toured all across TX and built her rep there before reaching international stardom. She even has a statue dedicated to her in Corpus Christi, where she died after being shot by her boutique's manager in '95.