Ruidoso, New Mexico — A peaceful mountain village turned into a nightmare when heavy rains suddenly caused dangerous flash floods on Tuesday. These floods were so strong, they sadly killed three people, including two young children, and left dozens trapped in their homes and cars.
What Happened?
The rain came fast and hard, hitting the small resort village of Ruidoso, which is known for its beautiful mountains and vacation cabins.
Water from the rain rushed into the Rio Ruidoso river, making it rise really high—so high, it broke records at over 20 feet (about as tall as a two-story house!). The river overflowed and flooded roads, homes, and even entire neighborhoods.
In the middle of this disaster:
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A 4-year-old child, a 7-year-old child, and a man were caught in the rushing water and swept away. Their bodies were found later. 💔
Homes Were Washed Away Like Toys
One shocking video showed a whole house being ripped off its foundation and floating down the river like a toy boat. It slammed into trees as it moved quickly through the muddy water.
“We don’t know if someone was inside that house,” said Danielle Silva, who works for New Mexico’s emergency response team.
Heroes in Action: Rescues Underway
Emergency teams, local police, and even the National Guard came to help. Together, they did at least 85 rescues of people trapped in flooded homes and cars. Many people were scared, wet, and stuck, waiting to be saved.
As the water slowly went down that evening, rescue teams started looking through the mud and broken debris, hoping to find more survivors.
Why Was the Flood So Bad?
Just days before the flood, a wildfire had burned the land around Ruidoso. Because of that fire, there were no trees or plants left to stop the water from rushing through. When the heavy rain hit, the ground couldn’t hold it—so it turned into a powerful flood.
“It’s a deadly mix,” Silva explained. “Fire burned everything, then rain came and washed it all away.”
A Pattern of Deadly Floods
This tragedy in New Mexico happened only four days after another flash flood hit Texas, where at least 109 people died. It’s been a terrible week for many families in the southern U.S.
Where Is Ruidoso?
Ruidoso is a mountain town in New Mexico, about 115 miles (185 km) south of Albuquerque. It’s a popular place where people go in the summer to enjoy nature and skiing in the winter. But now, it’s a disaster zone—filled with mud, broken homes, and heartbreak.
