The nation — and much of the world — has been gripped by the tragic scenes unfolding in central Texas, where catastrophic flash floods claimed the lives of at least 107 people on Friday.
Heartbroken families are still searching for missing loved ones, and rescue teams continue their tireless efforts on the ground.
But just as the country began to process that unimaginable loss, another weather disaster has struck — this time in New Mexico.
The victims
The village of Ruidoso, nestled in the Sierra Blanca Mountains about 180 miles south of Albuquerque, was hit by a deadly wall of water Tuesday afternoon after sudden monsoon rains fell on wildfire-scarred hillsides. With nowhere to go, the water tore through the town.
Among the victims: a 4-year-old girl, a 7-year-old boy, and a man believed to be between 40 and 50 years old. All were ”swept downstream by the unprecedented floodwaters that struck the area,” officials confirmed late Tuesday.
”The entire Village of Ruidoso extends our deepest sympathy and compassion to these grieving families during this unimaginably difficult time,” said Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford in the statement, according to NBC.
”We are united in our sorrow and our commitment to supporting one another as we face this devastating loss together.”
“Record-breaking flooding”
The Rio Ruidoso swelled to a staggering 20 feet — five feet higher than the previous record — transforming from a shallow mountain stream into a raging torrent.
“All three individuals were caught in the rushing floodwaters and carried downstream during the catastrophic flooding event,” said a statement from the village.
The floods came swiftly, the result of monsoonal rains pelting terrain still recovering from last summer’s South Fork and Salt fires.
Those fires scorched over 17,000 acres and destroyed hundreds of homes, leaving behind hydrophobic soil that couldn’t absorb water—setting the stage for disaster.
Chaos, loss, and heartbreak
According to NBC, emergency crews carried out as many as 60 swift-water rescues on Tuesday, with search-and-rescue efforts stretching through the night.
Several people were hospitalized, and horses reportedly died in the floods. Videos on social media showed homes being swept away, gas leaks, and entire neighborhoods engulfed in mudslides.
One haunting video captured a house floating down the river before slamming into trees — an unimaginable sight in a town where residents once strolled across the shallow waters on foot.
Among the victims, community members have begun naming names.
Tiffanie Wyatt, who had been searching for her niece and nephew, later confirmed the heartbreaking news that both had perished in the floods. Darnell Benally also shared that 5-year-old Charlotte and 7-year-old Sebastian Trotter, last seen at Midtown RV Park, didn’t survive either.
“Hit us harder than we were expecting”
Mayor Crawford, still shaken, described the floods as among the worst he’s ever seen.
“This one hit us harder than we were expecting,” she said.
And the threat isn’t over.
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency as more storms are forecast during New Mexico’s monsoon season, which typically lasts through early September.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham responded swiftly, signing an emergency declaration request late Tuesday.
”Ruidoso endured devastating wildfires and flooding last summer, and now catastrophic flooding is hitting this resilient community again,” she said. ”This crisis demands immediate action.”
Community shelters
Officials urged those in safe, dry locations to remain there and asked families unable to reach loved ones to report missing persons to the emergency operations center.
An investigation into the deaths is ongoing, with assistance from the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and multiple other agencies.
But for now, the focus is on survival, mourning, and community.
“This town has been through hell,” said one local volunteer at the emergency shelter. “And somehow, we just keep getting hit.”
From the ravaged hills of New Mexico to the flood-ripped streets of Texas, families are grieving, homes are gone, and communities are forever changed. These are not just weather events — they’re human tragedies.
Now more than ever, the people of Ruidoso and central Texas need our help, our voices, and our compassion.
