Devastating flash floods tore through a mountain village in southern New Mexico on Tuesday, July 8, sweeping away homes and leaving at least three people missing. The flooding, triggered by intense monsoon rains, struck the town of Ruidoso — a popular summer getaway — where emergency crews scrambled to carry out over 85 swift water rescues.
According to Danielle Silva from the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the floods were so severe that an entire house was washed downstream in a matter of moments.
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People were rescued from their homes, rooftops, and even stranded cars as the rushing waters engulfed streets and neighborhoods with little warning. Though no fatalities have been reported as of Tuesday night, three individuals were hospitalized and are in stable condition, said Kerry Gladden, public information officer for the Village of Ruidoso.
As floodwaters began to recede by nightfall, search and rescue teams — including two National Guard units and several local crews — combed the area for the missing. Public works teams worked simultaneously to clear debris and mud that had overtaken roads and stranded vehicles.
The flooding comes on the heels of catastrophic flash floods in neighboring Texas that claimed over 100 lives and left more than 160 people unaccounted for, raising urgent questions about the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather events.
In New Mexico, the speed and intensity of the flooding were particularly alarming. Officials reported that the Rio Ruidoso surged nearly 19 feet in minutes during the heaviest rainfall, prompting authorities to issue emergency alerts and urge residents to move to higher ground.
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The National Weather Service had already issued flood warnings earlier in the day, especially for areas that had been stripped bare of vegetation by recent wildfires — a factor that likely exacerbated the speed and reach of the water.
As the community of Ruidoso begins to assess the damage and search for the missing, emergency officials are warning residents across the state to stay alert and prepared. With climate-related weather patterns growing more unpredictable, events like these are becoming not only more frequent but more dangerous.
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