Flooding in New Mexico kills at least 3 people, including 2 children
The Village of Ruidoso, a mountain town about 180 miles southeast of Albuquerque, confirmed the deaths in a statement on July 8, adding that all three individuals were "caught in the rushing floodwaters and carried downstream" during a flooding event that saw the Rio Ruidoso rise to a record-breaking 20 feet – five feet higher than the previous record, according to the statement.
The statement said the fatalities include one middle-aged man and two children – a 4-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy.
"Our hearts are broken for the families who have lost their loved ones in this terrible tragedy," said Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford in the statement. "The entire Village of Ruidoso extends our deepest sympathy and compassion to these grieving families during this unimaginably difficult time. We are united in our sorrow and our commitment to supporting one another as we face this devastating loss together."
The flooding left people trapped in homes and prompted multiple water rescues in Ruidoso. The town is susceptible to mudslides and increased runoff following two large fires that scorched swathes of land, known as "burn scars," in 2024.
Speaking on a local radio station, Crawford said there were multiple reports of mudslides and gas leaks at homes that had been damaged or swept away by floodwaters. Several bridges in the area were also damaged or underwater, according to the mayor.
The National Weather Service in Albuquerque issued the flash flood emergency emergency for Ruidoso at around 3 p.m. local time on July 8. Ruidoso, Ruidoso Downs Racetrack, and the neighborhood of Hollywood remained under a flash flood warning until 7:15 p.m., according to the weather service.
"A DANGEROUS situation is unfolding in RUIDOSO! A FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY remains in effect! Seek HIGHER GROUND NOW! Do NOT attempt to drive through the floodwaters. The current will carry away your vehicle!" the weather service wrote on social media.
Another flood watch for flash flooding was issued on the morning of Wednesday, July 9, for the Ruidoso area, the weather service said.
Models depict 'rich Gulf moisture' traveling up the slope and causing storms to regenerate over the burn scars in the afternoon and again in the evening of July
'The ground in the scars is already saturated from three consecutive days of heavy rainfall and flash flooding that occurred Sunday through Tuesday, so any rain that falls (July 9) will rapidly convert to runoff,' the weather service said. 'Greater moisture will return over the region heading into the weekend and into next week, with increasing confidence of widespread thunderstorms throughout New Mexico.'
On July 8, the highest measured rainfall in the area was 3.29 inches on the southwest side of the nearby South Fork burn scar, Jennifer Shoemake, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service said. Generally speaking, between 1.5 and 3.5 inches of rain fell on the South Fork burn scar and up to 1.5 inches fell in the village of Ruidoso.
-Dinah Voyles Pulver
The deaths and destruction in New Mexico adds to a devastating week of flooding in the U.S.
More than 100 people are dead as the search for more than 160 missing people continues in Kerr County, Texas, which received the brunt of flash flooding in the state on July 4. The death toll has steadily risen while search and rescue teams, in addition to volunteers, comb through debris.
The last "live rescue" was made on Friday, July 4, said Jonathan Lamb with the Kerrville Police Department, and the chances of finding survivors dwindle as time passes.
At least 27 of the flooding deaths were children and counselors at Camp Mystic, a beloved girls' Christian camp that sits along the Guadalupe River. It, along with homes and campgrounds in the area, was inundated in the early morning hours on Friday with little time to act. There are still five missing campers and one counselor from the camp, officials said.
The Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network, also reported on July 7 Tropical Storm Chantal brought over 10 inches of rain to portions of central North Carolina last weekend, causing flooding and damage. The Raleigh News & Observer reported that at least four people were killed as a result of the flooding.
Contributing: Natassia Paloma, Anthony Robledo, Thao Nguyen & Jason Groves, USA TODAY-Network
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ruidoso, New Mexico flooding kills 3 people, including 2 children
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