Ruidoso Floods Kill 3, Rescues and Recovery Ongoing

Severe monsoon rains caused catastrophic flash flooding in Ruidoso, New Mexico, on July 8, resulting in the deaths of a man in his 40s or 50s, a four-year-old girl, and a seven-year-old boy, who were swept away by the floodwaters. The Rio Ruidoso surged to a record height of over 20 feet, sweeping away an unoccupied house and causing significant damage to infrastructure. Emergency responders, including the National Guard and local teams, conducted between 50 and 85 swift-water rescues and established shelters for displaced residents. The flooding was intensified by rainfall over burn scar areas left by last year's wildfires, complicating rescue operations. Mayor Lynn Crawford and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham offered condolences and praised the community's resilience, while federal and local resources were mobilized for recovery and ongoing searches. The community continues to face gas leaks, power outages, and active searches for any additional missing persons.