At least three people, a man and two children have died in the village of Ruidoso after torrential rains triggered catastrophic flash flooding, sweeping them downstream and marking another tragedy in a region already scarred by last year’s deadly wildfires.
Local authorities confirmed the deaths Tuesday evening following a powerful storm that dumped up to 8.8 cm (3.5 inches) of rain on the area.
The sudden downpour caused the Ruidoso River to surge to historic levels, overwhelming parts of the town before the waters finally receded.
Emergency crews mounted a rapid response, conducting over 50 swift-water rescues as residents were urged to evacuate to higher ground.
According to Ruidoso village spokesperson Kerry Gladden, three people were also treated for injuries at a local hospital, and search and rescue teams remain active. A hotline has been established for those searching for missing loved ones.
Videos circulating on social media — including dramatic footage from local artist Kaitlyn Carpenter — showed homes being ripped apart and carried away by the raging floodwaters. The full extent of the property damage remains unclear. “It got ugly really quick,” Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford said during a local radio interview.
The National Weather Service (NWS) had issued warnings ahead of the storm, citing two major “burn scars” in the region — areas stripped of vegetation during the devastating June 2024 wildfires.
These scorched zones significantly reduce soil absorption, making them highly susceptible to flooding. As the NWS noted, the charred ground can be “as water-repellent as pavement.”
Last year’s wildfires forced a full evacuation of Ruidoso and scorched approximately 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) of forestland on either side of the town. Two lives were lost, and hundreds of homes were destroyed.
Tuesday’s flood serves as a grim reminder of how one natural disaster can amplify the risks of another — a phenomenon becoming increasingly common across the American Southwest.
The tragedy in New Mexico comes as the neighboring state of Texas grapples with its own flood disaster.
According to U.S. media, at least 111 people have died due to ongoing floods there, and 161 remain missing in a single county, Governor Greg Abbott said Tuesday.
While national media attention has focused heavily on Texas, the deadly events in Ruidoso highlight the compounding threats small communities face from climate-related disasters. From wildfire to flood, the people of Ruidoso now begin yet another painful path to recovery.
