Santa Fe, July 9 (AP) - Monsoon rains on Tuesday triggered severe flash flooding in a popular summer retreat mountain village in southern New Mexico. The flooding was so intense that an entire house was swept downstream, and at least three people are reported missing.
Danielle Silva from the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management stated that emergency crews conducted at least 85 swift water rescues in the Ruidoso area. Rescued individuals were trapped in their homes and vehicles.
No fatalities have been reported, although three individuals were hospitalized and are currently in stable condition, according to Ruidoso's public information officer, Kerry Gladden.
By Tuesday evening, the water levels had receded. Search and rescue teams, along with swift water rescue units, were diligently searching the town for the missing individuals. Public works teams focused on clearing the debris that had littered the roadways, and several cars were left stuck in the mud.
Two National Guard rescue teams, supplemented by several local teams, were already present in the area as the flooding began. Silva indicated that additional Guard units were mobilized and expected to arrive shortly to assist.
This incident in New Mexico follows a recent devastating flash flood in Texas, which claimed over 100 lives and left more than 160 individuals missing.
In response to the rising waters of the Rio Ruidoso, officials advised residents to seek higher ground on Tuesday afternoon. The river rose sharply by 19 feet (2.7 meters) within minutes due to heavy rainfall.
The National Weather Service issued flood warnings across the affected area, which had been left barren of vegetation because of recent wildfires.
A flood gauge operated by the weather service, along with accompanying video footage, showed the turbulent waters of the Rio Ruidoso breaching its banks and spilling into the nearby forest. Streets and bridges were subsequently closed.
Kaitlyn Carpenter, a local artist in Ruidoso, was caught in the storm while riding her motorcycle. She sought refuge at the riverside Downshift Brewing Company along with approximately 50 others.
While filming debris rushing along the Rio Ruidoso, Carpenter witnessed a recognizable house with a turquoise door being carried by the flood. It belonged to the family of a close friend, who were fortunately safe and not inside during the incident.
“I've shared memories in that house, and watching it float downstream was truly heartbreaking,” Carpenter said, struggling to believe the sight.
In a radio address later on Tuesday night, Ruidoso Mayor Lynn D. Crawford urged residents to reach out via an emergency line if they knew of missing loved ones or neighbors. He also mentioned reports of deceased horses near the town's racetrack, stating that the impact of this flood was unexpectedly severe, even with prior flood warnings.
The region has remained particularly susceptible to flooding ever since the summer of 2024, when the South Fork and Salt fires ravaged dry forests and obliterated approximately 1,400 homes and structures. Residents who escaped the fires soon after grappled with intense flooding that summer as well.
“The water levels have noticeably exceeded those of last summer,” Silva noted. “There is a substantial flow, some of it affecting new areas that were not previously prone to flooding.”
Matt DeMaria, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, explained that the storms formed in the early afternoon over terrain still scarred by last year's fires, which limited the land's ability to absorb rainfall. Consequently, the water rapidly descended into the river.
Preliminary evaluations indicate that the Rio Ruidoso reached an unprecedented crest of over 20 feet (6 meters) — which if confirmed, would set a new record — but began receding Tuesday evening.
Three emergency shelters have been established in the Ruidoso area for those unable to return to their homes.
Cory State, employed at Downshift Brewing Company, accommodated dozens of residents who sought safety as the river surged and hail struck the windows. Observing the house float by was “just one of the many distressing events of today,” he said.
For Carpenter, the event triggered painful flashbacks to last year's flood, which claimed her art studio. Outside, the air carried the scent of gasoline, while loud crashes echoed as the river toppled trees in its path.
“It's quite frightening,” she remarked.
(AP)
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