RUISOSO, N.M. (BN24) — A father and two children were swept away by powerful floodwaters in southern New Mexico late Monday, as a flash flood emergency in the mountain village of Ruidoso escalated into a life-threatening disaster, according to the National Weather Service.
The agency reported that swift-water rescue crews were searching for the missing family after the Rio Ruidoso surged to an estimated 15 feet, overtopping its banks and tearing through residential neighborhoods. The conditions developed rapidly as torrential rain poured across burn scars left by recent wildfires, intensifying the flooding and uprooting homes along the river.
In updates posted online, the Weather Service said at least one adult and two children were trapped elsewhere and awaiting rescue, while an elderly woman remained stranded inside her home as the water rose. Video footage circulating on social media appeared to show entire houses floating away in the torrent.
“Stay away from the river! Seek higher ground NOW!” the Weather Service warned in an emergency alert.
Emergency management officials in Ruidoso urged residents to move immediately to higher ground and avoid any attempts to drive through inundated streets, emphasizing that the rapidly moving floodwaters posed extreme danger.
Ruidoso, a mountain community about three hours south of Albuquerque, has been under a flash flood warning since earlier Monday evening. Forecasters said saturated slopes and fire burn scars were funneling runoff into the river system faster than residents could evacuate.
Multiple rescue operations were underway late Monday around Gavilan Trailer Park, one of the hardest-hit areas. Officials did not immediately release details about additional casualties or the condition of those reported missing.
The National Weather Service warned that additional rounds of rain could worsen flooding overnight and maintained the emergency declaration, calling it an “extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation.”
