Flash floods devastate New Mexico mountain village, three dead, house swept away

At least three people are dead and dozens more were rescued after sudden flash floods tore through the village of Ruidoso in southern New Mexico on Tuesday, triggered by intense monsoon rains that caused the Rio Ruidoso to rise nearly 19 feet in minutes.

Emergency officials say the flooding was so severe that one entire house was swept downstream. The village of Ruidoso has confirmed that a 4-year-old girl, a 7-year-old boy and a adult man in his 40s were killed, according to AOL News. The storm hit the popular summer retreat area with little warning, catching residents and tourists off guard.

Spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Danielle Silva told the Associated Press that at least 85 swift water rescues were carried out, many involving people trapped inside homes or vehicles as water surged through streets and over riverbanks.

Three individuals were hospitalized and remain in stable condition, according to Kerry Gladden, public information officer for the Village of Ruidoso.

By Tuesday night, flood waters had begun to recede, allowing search and rescue teams to locate people who were missing. Crews were also clearing debris-strewn roads, while stranded vehicles sat mired in mud. The National Guard deployed two rescue teams to the area ahead of the storm and plans to send more.

“This one hit us harder than what we were expecting,” Ruidoso Mayor Lynn D. Crawford said during a Tuesday night radio broadcast. He urged residents to call emergency lines if friends or neighbors could not be located. Crawford also reported dead horses near the local racetrack, underscoring the flood's widespread impact.

The region’s vulnerability has been heightened since the catastrophic South Fork and Salt fires in summer 2024. Those wildfires scorched large swaths of forest, stripping the landscape of vegetation and increasing the risk of flooding. Nearly 1,400 homes and buildings were destroyed in that fire season, and many residents are still recovering.

“This year, water levels seem even higher than they were last summer,” Silva noted. “It’s a significant amount of water, flowing in some areas that didn’t flood before.”

Meteorologist Matt DeMaria from the National Weather Service said Tuesday’s storms built up over burn-scarred terrain, which couldn’t absorb the sudden downpour. As a result, water rapidly funneled into the Rio Ruidoso, pushing it to an apparent record crest of over 20 feet.

The National Weather Service had issued flood warnings earlier in the day. A flood gauge and live video camera showed the river bursting its banks, sending turbulent water through forested areas and shutting down roads and bridges.

Officials opened three emergency shelters for displaced residents and visitors who were unable to return home. With more rain possible in the coming days, local authorities are continuing to monitor the situation closely.

“This is a community that’s been through fire and flood,” Mayor Crawford said. “We will get through this, too, but we need everyone to stay alert and look out for each other.”