Ruidoso Reels as Flash Floods Sweep Away Homes in New Mexico

Santa Fe: Devastating flash floods struck Ruidoso, a small town in New Mexico, on Tuesday, following heavy rainfall that caused widespread destruction. Social media footage captured the severity of the disaster, including a shocking video of an entire house being carried away by the powerful current of the Rio Ruidoso river. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Albuquerque issued urgent warnings, declaring a flash flood emergency and urging residents to seek higher ground immediately. “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 NWS stated on X.

The flooding comes in the wake of catastrophic floods in neighboring Texas, where over 100 people lost their lives and approximately 160 remain missing, according to Governor Greg Abbott, as reported by AFP. In Ruidoso, several homes were reportedly swept away or damaged by the surging waters. The Rio Ruidoso river reached dangerous levels, with water levels rising rapidly to a crest of 20.24 feet, potentially setting a record high, as noted by the NWS Albuquerque on X (@NWSAlbuquerque). No injuries have been reported in Ruidoso so far, offering a glimmer of relief amidst the chaos.

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The town, previously scarred by wildfires last year, faced heightened vulnerability due to the loss of vegetation, which exacerbated the flooding. Visuals shared online, including a clip posted by X user @MAGAVoice, depicted the raw power of the floodwaters as they tore through the community, leaving residents and authorities grappling with the aftermath of this natural disaster.