Flash Floods Trap Residents in New Mexico Emergency

A flash flood emergency was declared in Ruidoso, New Mexico, after heavy thunderstorms caused the Rio Ruidoso to surge to record levels, damaging homes and infrastructure already vulnerable from the 2024 South Fork Fire burn scars. Multiple rescues were underway Tuesday as families became trapped, and at least three people—a father and two children in Lincoln—were reportedly swept away by floodwaters, though no fatalities had been confirmed by Tuesday afternoon. The National Weather Service warned residents to seek higher ground due to the heightened risk from runoff on burn scars. Dramatic videos showed homes being washed away, and local emergency operations coordinated searches for missing individuals. The event coincided with deadly flooding in Central Texas, underscoring a broader severe weather pattern. Emergency crews continue to conduct search and rescue operations as risks persist.