At least three people have been confirmed dead in the village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, following flash floods caused by intense rainfall. Local officials said a man and two children were swept away by rising floodwaters after up to 8.8 cm (3.5 inches) of rain fell in the area, causing the Ruidoso River to surge to historic levels.
The flooding, which struck on Monday night, prompted urgent search and rescue efforts across the village. As of Tuesday evening, emergency crews had conducted at least 50 swift water rescues, and a hotline has been established for residents seeking missing family members.
A house gets swept away in the massive floods that have hit New Mexico, which borders Texas, also hit with flash floods.#NewMexico #NewMexicoFloods #FlashFlood #TexasFloods pic.twitter.com/QcfqA6WwVM
— The Theorist (@thetheorist_in) July 9, 2025
Kerry Gladden, spokesperson for Ruidoso village, confirmed ongoing field operations and stated that three individuals were treated for injuries at a local hospital. Residents were advised to move to higher ground amid the flooding.
Burn Scars from 2024 Wildfires Increase Flash Flood Risk
Officials noted that the presence of two “burn scars” from the 2024 wildfires around Ruidoso had worsened the flooding risk. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the charred soil behaves like pavement, unable to absorb water, which drastically increases runoff and flood intensity.
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Southern New Mexico experienced severe wildfires in June 2024, which led to the evacuation of Ruidoso and the destruction of hundreds of homes. Two people were killed in those fires, which scorched nearly 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres). Experts had warned that flash flood risks in the area would remain elevated for at least two years.
Eyewitness videos posted to social media showed homes being swept away by the force of the water. Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford, speaking on local radio, said the situation deteriorated rapidly. “It got ugly really quick,” he stated. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed.
Texas Flood Disaster Adds to Southern US Tragedy
The tragedy in Ruidoso follows deadly flooding in neighbouring Texas, where at least 111 people have died. Texas Governor Greg Abbott stated on Tuesday that 161 people remain missing in Kerr County alone, including campers from a summer camp on the Guadalupe River.
Emergency services in both states remain on high alert as weather-related disasters continue to impact the southern United States.
